Effects of Kilham rat virus on natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in brown Norway and Wistar Furth rats.

Effects of Kilham rat virus (KRV) on selected aspects of the immune response of 2 strains of laboratory rats were studied. The Brown Norway rat and Wistar Furth rat were infected with KRV and serum antibody and interferon values and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells were determined to assess the virus' effect on the rat's immune systems. Antibody values to the virus were increased in both strains after viral inoculation, and total antibody values were comparable in the 2 rat strains. Natural cytotoxicity was increased in Brown Norway rats 3 to 4 days after inoculation in contrast to a distinct depression for a period of 10 days in the Wistar Furth strain. Serum interferon was not measurable in either strain of rat. Seemingly, there is a distinct immune response to KRV in each rat strain and the cytotoxic activity response differs in these 2 strains of rats.