[Mechanisms of the stimulating action of the Rauscher leukemia virus on togavirus reproduction in the bodies of BALB/c strain mice].

Reciprocal stimulation or inhibition are observed in double infection of mice with Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV) and togaviruses Sindbis or West Nile (WN). Stimulation of togavirus infections is manifested by the enhancement of the visceral phase of pathogenesis without subsequent activation of togarivus reproduction in the CNS. This effect is accompanied by enhanced togavirus replication in splenocytes, a decrease in the number of antibody-producing cells in the spleen, a decrease of antihemagglutinins titer in the blood without any significant change in the virus-neutralizing antibody and interferon titers. RLV-induced immunosuppression is termporary and of varying intensity with regard to individual parameters of immune response and to different variants of WN virus (highly virulent, poorly virulent). It is assumed that the differentiated and temporary nature of the immunosupressive effect of RLV is conducive to selective stimulation of the visceral phase of togavirus reproduction followed by inhibition of the neural phase under the influence of restored immune mechanisms and interferon. Because of the defects of humoral and cellular immunity, however, no complete elimination of togavirus occurs and conditions for its long-term persistence are created.