Immune Response in Guinea Pigs and Monkeys to the Individual Components of a Combined Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus Antigen Plus Poliomyelitis Vaccine

Abstract

The serologic responses of guinea pigs and monkeys to triple diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine (DPT), poliomyelitis vaccine, and combined triple and poliomyelitis vaccine (DPT-P), have been studied. All antigenic components, in whichever vaccine they were given, stimulated demonstrable antibodies. In the present experiments with limited numbers of animals, the diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin levels in guinea pigs were somewhat lower following the combined DPT-P vaccine than following triple DPT; also, the poliomyelitis response was less following combined DPT-P, however, all antibody levels appeared to be somewhat higher following the combined product than following poliomyelitis vaccine alone. The pertussis serologic response in both guinea pigs and monkeys was consistently good regardless of the combination in which it was given; also, in pertussis mouse protection tests, the DPT and DPT-P vaccines were of similar potency. Results encourage further work with combined multiple antigens in which poliomyelitis vaccine is included.