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Examination of the effect of age and acquired immunity on the susceptibility of mice to infection with Aspergillus fumigatus

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Abstract

Adult CBA mice showed considerably greater resistance to experimental infection with Aspergillus fumigatus than young animals of the same strain (P < 0.01). Furthermore, in contrast with the young mice, the susceptibility of the adults was only moderately increased by treatment with cortico-steroids. On the other hand, immunosuppressive treatments producing severe depression of lymphocyte function greatly increased susceptibility to lethal infection and promoted fungal growth in a wide range of tissues. These observations suggested a role for specific acquired immunity in the relatively high resistance to experimental aspergillosis shown by older mice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge, Surrey, England

    M. J. Corbel & Susan M. Eades

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  1. M. J. Corbel
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  2. Susan M. Eades
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Corbel, M.J., Eades, S.M. Examination of the effect of age and acquired immunity on the susceptibility of mice to infection with Aspergillus fumigatus. Mycopathologia 60, 79–85 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00490376

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