Macrophage activation in mice infected with Mycobacterium lepraemurium.

Enhanced levels of systemic macrophage activation were observed in mice sub-cutaneously or intra-venously infected with M. lepraemurium, as assessed by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, hydrogen peroxide production and tumour cell cytostasis. High levels of systemic macrophage activation did not correlate with the ability to limit bacterial growth as the most susceptible strain (BALB/C) exhibited the highest levels of macrophage activation.