Influence of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia on Susceptibility to Salmonella Infection.

Abstract

Summary Mice of the NZB/B1 strain with naturally occurring autoimmune hemo-lytic anemia are more susceptible to infection with S. typhimurium than NZB/B1 mice without autoimmune hemolysis. The increase in susceptibility can be demonstrated by comparing the response of the following groups of mice to challenge with Salmonella: 1. Old mice with positive Coombs tests compared with young mice with negative Coombs tests. 2. Mice with positive Coombs tests compared with mice of the same age with negative Coombs tests. 3. Young mice with negative Coombs tests transfused with erythrocytes from Coombs positive mice compared with young mice with negative Coombs tests transfused with Coombs negative erythrocytes. 4. Young mice with positive Coombs tests resulting from transfer of nucleated cells from Coombs positive donors compared with young mice with negative Coombs tests following transfer of nucleated cells from Coombs negative donors or following transfer of frozen and thawed cells from Coombs positive donors. The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of Miss Pepi Romano and Miss Akiko Yamamoto.