title: Genetic-linked variation in susceptibility of mice to Schistosomiasis mansoni.
abstract: Genetic dependence of susceptibility to primary infection with Schistosoma mansoni was studied in inbred strains of mice. Eight weeks after the subcutaneous injection of 30 cercariae, C3H/HeJ (H-2k), DBA/1J (H-2q) and BALB/cJ (H-2d) had the highest number of adult worms per animal (8.0-9.8); DBA/2J (H-2d) and 129/J (H-2b) had an intermediate number (6.2-6.4); C57BL/6J (H-2b), BUB/BnJ (H-2q) and CBA/CaJ (H-2k) had the lowest number (3.4-4.0). Studies in congenic mice further suggested that genes within the major histocompatibility complex do not have a major influence on determining the ability of schistosomes to develop into mature adult worms. Results of experiments in which adult worm loads in the F1 generation of C57BL/6J X BALB/cJ were compared with F1 X C57BL/6J and F1 X BALB/cJ backcrosses are consistent with homozygosity for a polygenic phenomenon controlling susceptibility to primary S. mansoni infection. Strain associated differences in parasite development appeared to be related to host defense processes directed against maturing adult worms.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008168:Lung; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D006183:H-2 Antigens