The protective activity of serum from immune rats against Babesia rodhaini

Abstract

Sera pooled from rats which were immune to Babesia rodhaini infection had demonstrable protective activity against the piroplasm in non-immune rats. When inoculated with parasites or close to the time of infection, antiserum caused a delay in the onset of patency but did not usually affect the course and severity of the patent parasitaemia in young rats. There were more survivors when antiserum was given in a series of small doses over a period rather than a single large inoculum at the time of infection. Serum from rats previously reinfected several times, when injected into infected rats during the early stages of patency, was followed by a rapid fall in parasite numbers. A severe secondary parasitaemia eventually ensued in these animals.I would like to thank Dr S. F. Barnett for his advice during the work and Dr F. Hawking and my colleagues at Mill Hill for criticizing the manuscript. This work was carried out during the tenure of an Agricultural Research Council Studentship.