Immunological investigations in inbred mice chronically infected with cytopathogenic agents isolated from human cases of Balkan endemic nephropathy.

An experimental chronic infection was induced in inbred A2G and CBA mice by repeated administration of four cytopathogenic agents isolated from human cases of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). The slight humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to the BEN agents recorded in A2G mice were associated with autoimmunity and hypersensitivity phenomena. In contrast, the normal, intense immune response observed in CBA mice was not accompanied by any immunopathological changes. In both mouse lines the chronic infection with human BEN agents led to a secondary immune deficiency against sheep red blood cells or tuberculin.