CIRCULATING IMMUNITY PRINCIPLES IN RAT-BITE FEVER

Abstract

Summarizing the results that have been cited, we have proved that the blood serum of convalescents from rat-bite fever contains antibodies which are specific against the causative agent of that disease. The serum of rat-bite fever was capable of destroying the spirochetes not only in the hanging drop preparations, but also in the peritoneal cavity of guinea pigs. The guinea pigs employed for Pfeiffer's test always remained well. In the experimentally infected mice receiving intravenously or intraperitoneally serum equalling in quantity the amount of infected blood, the numbers of spirochetes were greatly decreased or they disappeared for a definite period. It is not yet clear how long after recovery from rat-bite fever the antibodies are effective in the blood of human beings, and further investigations are needed to elucidate this point. In our experiments we found that serum taken from Case I showed definite spirochetolytic and spirocheticidal properties 11 months after the onset of the disease. In Case 2, the period was 6 months, and in Case 3, 3 months following the onset of rat-bite fever.