The role of macrophages in the protection of mice against leptospirosis: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Balb/c mice are naturally resistant to infection with Leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni, but leptospires were not phagocytosed by mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro without added specific antibody. Similar results were obtained irrespective of whether leptospires were viable or killed, virulent or avirulent, or whether macrophages were obtained from normal mice, immunized mice or mice previously infected with BCG. Suppression or stimulation of macrophage function in vivo did not affect the outcome of infection of immunosuppressed mice with leptospires; specific antibody was essential for protection from infection.