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Infect Immun. 1974 June; 9(6): 1123-1125
Copyright © 1974 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Influence of Sex and Age on Natural Resistance to St. Louis Encephalitis Virus Infection in Mice

^a Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

ABSTRACT

A difference was observed in susceptibility of adult male and female mice to St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus as measured by the death rate after intravenous challenge. Female mice that had susceptibility similar to that of males at 2 months of age had increased resistance to SLE virus at 3 and 4 months of age. The increased resistance occurred after sexual maturity, indicating that the resistance factor possibly was related to an aging process in the female. The susceptibility of male mice remained unchanged over the 2- to 4-month period. Neither pregnancy nor castration had any effect on resistance of adult mice to St. Louis encephalitis virus.

¹ Present address: Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, N.Y. 11944.