Genetic factors and host resistance in experimental pyelonephritis

There have been no reports suggesting that a genetic component may affect host resistance to renal infection. In rats with experimentally induced unilateral pyelonephritis, consistent level of infection was achieved in the directly challenged (left) kidneys. Retrograde infection in the unmanipulated (right) kidneys was found to be strain dependent in these animals. Infection was readily established in the right kidneys of the AS2 and HO strains but not in the DA strain; however, infection was established in all unmanipulated kidneys of the DA X AS2 F1 hybrid, whereas eight of 10 kidneys from the DA X HO hybrid remained uninfected. These results suggest that host resistance to retrograde renal infection in the rat strains studied was genetically determined, although the relevant host factor(s) has not yet been identified.