[Effect of antilymphocyte serum on the course of influenzal infection in mice]

The effect of antilymphocyte serum (ALS) on the course of infection produced by influenza A/PR8/34 virus in mice weighing 10-12 g was studied. Inoculation of mice with ALS produced a longer persistence of influenza virus in the lung tissue and in the blood (up to 15 days of the observation period), whereas in the controls no influenza virus could be isolated after 9 days. No antibody production in ALS-treated mice was observed. The immunosuppression in mice reduced the extent of involvement of the lungs and lethality as compared with the control animals, being conducive to the change of the acute influenza infection into chronic one.