The Immunologic Response of Goats to Normal and Syphilitic Rabbit Testicular Tissue

Abstract

Goat immunization and absorption studies revealed that normal rabbit testicular tissue shares common “nonspecific” immobilizing and lipopolysaccharide antigens with virulent Treponema pallidum, Nichols strain and Treponema reiteri; reagin failed to develop in response to either the testicular tissue or the virulent treponemes. Female goats injected intramuscularly with relatively large numbers of virulent T. pallidum, Nichols strain, showed no evidence of infection as measured by clinical observation, transfer and special straining of popliteal nodes, and antibody response.