Hostname: page-component-6898cfcb55-kwdml Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-11T16:55:47.562Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Immunity in trypanosomiasis I. Neutralization reaction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

M. A. Soltys
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Cambridge

Extract

A study of neutralization reaction of trypanosomes with immune sera made against them is recorded, together with a description of the technique.

Neutralizing antibody appears in rabbits infected with T. brucei 5 days after infection and reaches its peak (1/320) within 28 days.

The same titre of neutralizing antibody can be produced in rabbits by a series of injections of dead formalized trypanosomes.

Antibody titres persist at high levels for a longer period in animals infected and subsequently treated than in animals immunized with dead trypanosomes.

Neutralizing antibody can be demonstrated in infected guinea-pigs but on a much lower level than in rabbits. Mice and rats infected with T. brucei and not treated failed to show demonstrable neutralizing antibody.

Mice infected with T. brucei can be protected from infection by inoculation at the same time, or even 1 hr. later, with 0·5 ml. of antiserum showing a high level of neutralizing antibody.

Mice inoculated with the same antiserum showed passive immunity lasting for 10 days.

The evidence that T. brucei ‘O‘ after passages through rabbits failed to be neutralized by homologous or heterologous sera which, on the other hand, were able to neutralize the parent strain, suggests that strains after passage through rabbits were not genetic variants, but developed a protective mechanism against immune bodies.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1957

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable