[Lassa and Mozambique viruses: cross protection in experiments on mice and action of immunosuppressants on experimental infections].

The pathogenicity of Mozambique virus for random-bred mice and CBA mice was studied. In contrast to Lassa virus, intracerebral inoculation of newborn zandom-bred mice with Mozambique virus (1000 PFU/mouse) results in death of the animals. The pathogenic properties of both viruses for adult CBA mice were found to be similar: intracerebral inoculation of the viruses caused death of the animals within 6-8 days, but not intraperitoneal inoculation. With the latter, they produced a population of immunocompetent cells protecting syngeneic recipient mice against the lethal intracerebral inoculation of the homologous virus. Cross-protection experiments demonstrated that intraperitoneal inoculation of Lassa virus protected 70% of mice against the lethal infection with Mozambique virus, and intraperitoneal inoculation of Mozambique virus protected 45% of mice against Lassa virus. Cyclophosphamide exerted no protective effect in Mozambique virus-infected mice. Cyclosporin A exerted no therapeutic effect in mice lethally infected with Lassa or Mozambique virus.