Quantitative Aspects of Friend Leukemia Virus in Various Murine Hosts

Abstract

The murine host range of Friend leukemia virus was investigated quantitatively. To determine susceptibility, various strains of mice were given injections intraperitoneally with 0.5 ml of a 20% suspension of virus. At 14, 21 and 28 days after inoculation 7 to 10 mice from each group were sacrificed and the spleens examined histologically. Virus failed to multiply in C57BL and A strains. About 70% of C3H mice were susceptible, but overt disease developed in 39%, the remainder being detectable by histologic examination only. Virus multiplied more slowly and to a lesser degree in C3H mice than in Swiss, DBA/2 and BALB/c, which were highly susceptible. Splenomegaly was more marked and more regular and BALB/c than in any of the other strains investigated; 100% of these mice being susceptible after initial adaptation.