The Active Immunization of Guinea-Pigs Passively Immunized with Homologous Antitoxic Serum

Abstract

SummaryGroups of guinea-pigs were passively immunized against diphtheria toxin with homologous antitoxic serum so that their sera contained, at the start of the experiment, 1·0, 0·1, 0·01 or 0·001 unit/ml, respectively. They were then actively immunized with one, or two spaced, injections of 0·1 Lf of A.D.F. Two control groups were included, one passively immunized only and the other actively immunized only.Passively produced serum titres of 0·01 and 0·001 unit/ml. did not interfere with active immunization in any demonstrable way.A titre of 0·1 unit/ml. did interfere with active immunization, markedly 4 weeks after the primary, slightly 2 weeks after the secondary, and markedly 14 weeks after the secondary, stimulus.A titre of 1·0 unit/ml. interfered with active immunization, markedly 4 weeks after the primary, and 2 and 14 weeks after the secondary, stimulus. This titre, however, did not completely annul the effect of the primary stimulus. The highest observed serum titre was obtained at the 32nd, instead of at the 4th week, as in the guinea-pigs actively immunized only.In large measure the results confirm those of Barr and her colleagues who found that, in human babies, an initial ‘passive’ titre of 0·04 unit/ml. serum did not interfere with active immunization, whereas a titre of 0·1 unit/ml, led to unsatisfactory immunization.