A mouse model for Entamoeba histolytica infection.

2 strains of Entamoeba histolytica, SAW 760 and SAW 408 (non-invasive zymodeme IX and invasive zymodeme II respectively, Sargeaunt & Williams 1979) were administered intra-intestinally to 15 inbred and 3 outbred strains of mouse. All were known to be free of the mouse amoeba E. muris. During the investigation, all animals were maintained in plastic film isolator units, under gnotobiotic conditions. Both zymodemes were found to be capable of infecting all 18 strains of mice for varying periods of time and both were capable of invading the gut mucosa in genetically susceptible strains. Mortality was high in some of the immunologically deprived strains, particularly with the more invasive strain of amoeba. 4 mouse strains: DBA/2, MRL, NZB, C57BL/6 bg, were found to be particularly good hosts to SAW 760.