Accession Number:

ADA090916

Title:

Immune Responses to Rickettsia akari Infection in Congenitally Athymic Nude Mice

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH INST OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES FORT DETRICK MD

Personal Author(s):

• Kenyon, Richard H.
• Pedersen, Jr., Carl E.

Report Date:

1980-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

4.0

Abstract:

Athymic BALBc nude mice and euthymic BALBc mice were infected with Rickettsia akari by the intraperitoneal route. The rickettsialpox infection was terminated in euthymic mice with only two intraperitoneal injections of the antibiotic oxytetracycline, whereas prolonged treatment was necessary to terminate the infection in athymic mice. Both athymic and euthymic mice produced specific antibody, but athymic mice were still susceptible to reinfection. Killed R. akari served as a protective immunogen in euthymic, but not in athymic, mice. When spleen cells from convalescent euthymic mice were transfered to syngeneic athymic mic, recipients showed protection against challenge. This suggests that a T-cell-dependent step is generally necessary to terminate the rickettsialpox infection.

Descriptors:

• *IMMUNITY
• *RICKETTSIA AKARI
• ANTIBODIES
• MICE
• REPRINTS
• RESPONSE(BIOLOGY)
• SEROLOGY

Subject Categories:

• Medicine and Medical Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE