In vivo Inhibition of Blood Agglutinins by Polysaccharides from Animal Parasites.

Abstract

Monkeys and rabbits were injected intraven. with varying doses of polysaccharides isolated from larval Trichinella spiralis and from adult ascaris from pig. The dry and well pulverized worm material was placed in a boiling water bath for 30 min. and the polysaccharide was then precipitated by adding 95% alcohol to the supernatant. After injections the titers of the [alpha]2 blood agglutinins acting at 37[degree]C, in the monkeys and rabbits serums were reduced to O for a period of 24 hours, and remained low, as compared with the titer previous to inoculation, for a period of 96 hours. The titers of the ot [alpha]1 were also reduced, but not as much as those of the [alpha]2 isoagglutinins. The agglutinins acting at 6[degree]C (cold agglutinins) were also reduced following inoculation of the polysaccharides. Results indicated the possibility of using the polysaccharides for inhibition of autoagglutination as observed in certain pathological conditions.