Runting syndrome in neonatal rabbits infected with Treponema pallidum.

Abstract

Infection of rabbits with Treponema pallidum prior to the 2nd week of life usually resulted in progressive runting leading to death about the 7th–13th week of age. The severity of the disease could be evaluated at any particular time by the percentage weight retardation. In this small series there was a suggestion that the runting index (R.I.) and the presence or absence of reagins might correlate with the prognosis of the disease. Weight retardation of more than 25% and a R.I. of less than 0·81 were usually associated with irreversible, pathological processes refractory to penicillin therapy.