Abstract
Conclusion
Antiguinea pig rabbit immune sera, when injected intradermally into guinea pigs inhibited the clinical manifestations of typhus and spotted fever after' the infective material was inoculated at the site of the serum administration. Highly protective properties against typhus and spotted fever, previously absent in the serum of untreated rabbits, were demonstrated in the antisera of the same animals after their immunization with guinea pig spleen and bone marrow. However, an attenuation of typhus and spotted fevers occurred when serum of certain “normal” rabbits was used. The presence of Forssman antibodies in the rabbit immune sera and of sheep cell lysins in the “normal” sera seems of no significance. Among the factors involved in the observed phenomena, the barrier effect of the skin; and its modified permeability are probably decisive. The role of the spreading factor in the invasiveness of rickettsiae is under systematic experimental study.
The authors make no suggestions as to the possibilities of utilizing the methods and resuits described as a practical application for protection against or treatment of typhus or spotted fever.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.