Experimental Induction of Filariasis in Mice

Simultaneously, groups of female and male wildtype BALB/c mice were exposed to either: (i) a s.c. injection of 500 L3 in 100 µl RPMI-1640 medium isolated from Chrysops flies; (ii) 10,000 MF via the tail vein in 100 µl RPMI-1640 medium isolated from human peripheral blood [22 (link)], or (iii) 10 L4; (iv) 10 L5; and (v) 10 adult worms all isolated from infected-BALB/cRAG2γc^−/− mice. Whereas L4 were injected s.c. in 100 µl of RPMI-medium, L5 and adult stages were implanted as previously described [23 (link)]. In short, mice were anesthetized with ketamine (Ketaset, 70 mg/kg; Zoetis, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, New Jersey, USA) and medetomidine (Domitor, 0.8 mg/kg; Zoetis), flanks were shaved, dosed with betadine and following a small incision, L5 or adult worms were implanted into the mice. The incised area was then sutured and a s.c. shot of penicillin (12.06 mg/ml) was administered based on mouse weight (i.e. 100 µl/20 g) at the back of the neck followed by 200 µl antiserdan to wake the mouse up.