Effect of anti μ chain specific immunosuppression on Chikungunya virus encephalitis of mice

Abstract

Mice neonatally immunosuppressed with anti-μ antiserum failed to produce circulating antibodies to sheep erythrocytes and showed a marked decrease in circulating immunoglobulins. However, when they were intracerebrally infected with Chikungunya virus (a group A togavirus), they showed a mortality rate consistently lower than non-immunosuppressed control mice. Several possible explanations for this finding are discussed.