[The modelling of chronic infection (experimental leprosy) against a background of macrophagal immunodeficiency].

The dynamics of mycobacterial multiplication was followed in mice with intraplantar leprosy infection and preinduced macrophage insufficiency. The characteristics of Shepard's model appeared to be similar to those of the method proposed by the authors including the susceptibility to the main antileprosy drugs. Peritoneal macrophages were cytochemically studied in the process of development of mononuclear phagocyte deficiency and experimental leprosy. It was concluded that the method proposed preserving all the merits of Shepard's model should allow one to shorten significantly the duration of testing potential drugs for their antileprosy activity.