The blood and broncho-alveolar leucocyte (BAL) responses, to a primary Necator americanus infection, were studied in male BALB/c and NIH mice. Following percutaneous infection, a significant blood leucocytosis occurred in both the BALB/c and NIH strains. The peak response occurred, in both strains, on day 10 p.i. and this was reflected in the eosinophil response which peaked at the same time-point. The change in blood eosinophil numbers, as a result of infection, was found to be the greatest recorded for any cell type. In BALB/c mice, however, infection elicited a significantly more intense total leucocyte, lymphocyte and eosinophil response than in NIH mice. In contrast, the BAL response was more intense in the NIH strain. Peak BAL responses were observed between days 12 and 16 p.i., in both strains, and the change in broncho-alveolar eosinophil numbers, as a result of infection, was found to be the greatest recorded for any cell type. The relationship between the observed leucocyte responses and resistance to the migrating larvae of a primary infection is discussed.

The first case in which lithium toxicity and leucocytosis with hypomania appear to have been induced by the selective serotonin reuptake blocking antidepressant, fluoxetine, is described. The possible pathophysiology of this interaction is discussed.