Eperythrozoon coccoides. I. Effect on the interferon response in mice.

Eperythrozoon coccoides is a common blood parasite of rodents and the etiological agent of a chronic infection present in many mouse colonies. After primary infection, mice develop a parasitemia and anemia followed by a chronic, latent infection. During the acute phase of infection, mice manifest a striking suppression of interferon production in response to induction with Newcastle disease virus, Chikungunya virus, and poly I:C. These data suggest that the reticuloendothelial system involvement with this agent is associated with impairment of the interferon response. The enhanced susceptibility of E. coccoides-infected animals to certain viral infections may be related to this suppression of interferon production.