An Agent,Transmissible to Mice,Obtained during a Study of Pemphigus vulgaris

Abstract

The frequent symmetrical distribution of the cutaneous manifestations of Pemphigus vulgarisand their resemblance to trophic lesions as well as the limitation of the pathologic changes to the skin and nervous system have suggested a neurotropic etiologic agent of the disease. Carol 1 has summarized the work of earlier investigators in this field and has recorded his own results following intracerbral inoculation of pemphigus material into rabbits, guinea pigs, monkeys, and mice. He concluded that a specific virus of pemphigus could not be demonstrated by the methods hitherto employed. We, however, felt that there was more likelihood of the transmission of an etiologic agent of pemphigus to animals if the resistance of the animals was previously lowered by irradiation. The results obtained by the inoculation of blister fluid and spinal fluid from 3 cases of Pemphigus vulgaris into the brains of irradiated mice are recorded here.

Case I, D. R., an adult female, had been sick for 6 months when bacteriologically sterile blister fluid was obtained 23 days before death. Five mice which received a generalized x-ray dose of 400 r. were inoculated intracerebrally with 0.03 cc. of fluid. Three weeks later all were sick. One was killed on the 22nd day, another died on the 94th day, and the remainder recovered. A 40% bacteriologically sterile emulsion in physiologic saline of the brain of the killed animal was used for passage. All of the animals which received the brain emulsion became sick in the second week after inoculation and died by the 27th day. The active agent has since been transmitted for 46 passages and at present 0.03 cc. of a 5% emulsion of bacteriologically sterile infectious brain material kills 90 to 100% of the mice in 7 days.