INFLUENCE OF ACETYLSALICYLIC-ACID ON A LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES INFECTION

The influence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, CAS 50-78-2) on the Lister ia monocytogenes infection in balb/c mice was investigated. One day pr ior to lethal or sublethal infection, balb/c mice were treated intrave nously with therapeutic concentrations of ASA alone or ASA in combinat ion with murine recombinant interferon gamma, a lymphokine produced by T-helper cells. Three days post-infection, parasite burdens of spleen and liver were determined by the colony-forming unit assay. It was sh own that the prophylactic application of ASA in a concentration of 5 m g/kg body weight resulted in a more than 10-fold reduction of viable L isteria monocytogenes in spleen and liver of balb/c mice. In addition, the combination of a suboptimal dosage of interferon gamma with ASA r esulted in a significantly higher survival rate compared to the untrea ted controls.