Resistance to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense among inbred strains of mice
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Abstract
Recent human isolates of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense produce patent low grade to subpatent parasitemias in outbred mice. The purpose of this study was to determine if host genes control resistance to infection. Results of inbred mouse infections indicate that H-2^b and H-2^d haplotypes are resistant, while all H-2^k haplotype mice tested (C3H, AKR, and CE) are susceptible, with death occuring usually in the first peak. Radiation chimeras of resistant and susceptible mice (F1 and parentals), when infected, indicated that immune response genes were responsible for resistance rather than background genes. The indication that H-2^k is linked to susceptibility was proved with congenic BlO.BR/SgSn (H-2^k) mice which were found to be susceptible whereas C57LB/10 (H-2^b) were found to be resistant. Results of infections of F-^ hybrid progeny indicate resistance is dominant and is located on two or more gene loci. Survivors of first peak parasitemias were immunosuppressed and patency rates were determined. These data indicate that there is also a partial H-2 linkage to maintenance of chronic subpatent infections.