Abstract
Summary
The polyarthritis which occurs after injection of water-in-oil adjuvant into laboratory rats was found to develop as readily in the germ-free animal. In addition to the acute arthritis, both groups of animals also developed a florid urethritis and balanitis. In this study repeated cultures of food, feces, urine and urethral discharge were always bacteriologically sterile in the germ-free group. Hence it is apparent that a bacterial flora is not necessary for development of adjuvant arthritis.
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