B cell-deficient muMT mice as an experimental model for Mycoplasma infections in X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

B cell-deficient muMT mice were investigated as an experimental model for human X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Mice were intranasally infected with Mycoplasma pulmonis and in 16 out of 17 muMT mice, dissemination of the bacteria from the airways was observed. More than 50% of these mice developed arthritis and/or changes in periarticular tissues. Mycoplasmal infection in muMT mice thus resembles the disease seen in XLA patients implying the usefulness of the model.