Susceptibility of Certain Domestic Animals to Experimental Infection with Rickettsia Prowazekii

Abstract

Summary Infection of young Montana livestock—a donkey, two goats, and two calves—with Rickettsia prowazekii is reported. The maximum rise in antibody titer occurred between the 20th and 30th days. Despite use of the epidemic agent to infect our animals, complement-fixation tests on their serum did not adequately differentiate the two forms of typhus, though toxin neutralization did specifically identify the epidemic form. The donkey showed the highest and most persistent serologic conversion. Both types of antibody were still present in this animal after 452 days, but had disappeared by 124 days in the goats and calves. Overt signs of disease were practically absent, and rickettsemia was not demonstrated by periodic transfer of blood to guinea pigs.