Role of T lymphocytes in recovery from murine cytomegalovirus infection.

Congenitally athymic nude (Nu/Nu) mice inoculated intraperitoneally with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), in doses as low as 1.3 X 10(1) plaque-forming units succumbed to the infection. In contrast, the mean lethal dose for heteroxygous euthymic (Nu/+) littermates was 4 X 10(3) plaque-forming units.