Treponema Pallidum Antibodies in Syphilitic Mice as Determined by Immunofluorescence and Passive Hemagglutination Techniques

[摘要] Within 2 weeks of a single intraperitoneal injection of 108 rabbit-grown motile Treponema pallidum (TP), mice developed TP antibodies detectable in a Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption (FTA-ABS) type of procedure and in a passive hemagglutination procedure. Reactivity took longer to appear if smaller numbers of treponemes were inoculated. Heat-killed TP produced a more transient and lower-titered response than did motile TP. Injection of rabbit serum or tissue substances alone caused no reaction in the FTA-ABS test and only minor reactivity, which could be overcome by additional absorption, in the hemagglutination assay. This study indicates that mice can produce TP antibodies promptly after one inoculation, and that immunofluorescence and passive-hemagglutination procedures are sensitive tools for studying TP antibody formation in syphilitic mice.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）