Social isolation modifies the response of mice to experimental Mengo virus infection.

To investigate the effects of social isolation on host resistance male mice were housed either individually (IH) or in groups of four or five (GH). All animals were infected with MengoM,L virus. Incubation time (INCUB), duration of illness (ILL), death rate (DR), histopathological changes, and serum corticosterone levels (CORT) were recorded.

Does physiological interferon play a role in Mengo virus infection of mice?

NZB, BALB/c and C3H mice, differing in their production of physiological interferon (IFN), were used as models to investigate its role in their resistance to Mengo virus infection. These mouse strains also differ in their susceptibility to the infection. NZB and BALB/c mice, producing higher titers of physiological IFN than C3H mice, proved to be less resistant to the infection than the latter mouse strain.

Bestatin-induced enhancement of in vivo phagocytosis determined by a new simple assay.

Pretreatment of mice by the immunostimulator bestatin resulted after four days in a significant enhancement of the phagocytic activity of peritoneal cells. For quantification of the phagocytic process of murine peritoneal phagocytes a new in vivo assay is proposed. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Escherichia coli bacteria were i.

Modeling survival of experimentally virus-infected laboratory animals.

Although survival analysis is a well-established mathematical discipline, there seem to be almost no attempts in survival modeling for experimentally virus-infected laboratory animals. We have taken up a stochastic approach originally developed by Shortley in the sixties and have applied it to three different types of experimental data: to virus titer determination, to the dose dependence of the mean survival time and to single survival curves. Experience concerning parameter estimation is reported and new ways of working with the model parameters are proposed.

[Use of direct calorimetry for continuously following the course of experimental infections in the mouse].

To obtain information about early symptoms of infection measurements of heat production were performed in experimentally infected animals. As a model Mengo virus-infected mice were used. Construction and physical properties of the flow calorimeter device are described.