Abstract
The serums of six out of eight actinomycotic cattle fixed complement with four different antigens prepared from Actinomycetes isolated aërobically from lesions in cattle, and not with antigens prepared from saprophytic strains. The complement fixation test may be of diagnostic value in this disease.
The serum of a rabbit immunized against A. bovis fixed complement with antigens prepared from A. bovis and A. maduræ, but not with antigens prepared from the acid-fast varieties A. asteroides and A. gypsoides, or from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The serums of rabbits immunized against A. gypsoides fixed complement equally with antigens prepared from A. gypsoides and A. asteroides, and in lower dilutions with M. tuberculosis, but not at all with A. bovis and A. maduræ. The serums of rabbits immunized against M. tuberculosis fixed complement with the homologous antigen, and in lower dilutions, with antigens prepared from the acid-fast Actinomycetes, A. asteroides and A. gypsoides, but not with A. bovis and A. maduræ. It would seem, therefore, that the acid-fast Actinomycetes are more closely related to the acid-fast bacteria than to the non acid-fast Actinomycetes.
A. gypsoides does not secrete a soluble toxine, but forms a very protent endotoxine. By careful vaccination there can be produced in rabbits an active protective immunity. The serum of such rabbits injected into guinea pigs gives the latter partial protection.
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