Induced Immunological Unresponsiveness to Staphylococcus Toxoid in Rabbits.

Abstract

These studies utilized Staphylococcus aureus Wood 46 to demonstrate the role of immunological unresponsiveness in staphylococcal infections in rabbits. Rabbits exposed to staphylococcal toxoid early in life have a reduced capacity to respond to the same toxoid in later live, as evidenced by the development of low antihemolysin titers. The resistance of such animals to the dermonecrotic effects of staphylococcal toxin is also reduced. The paper also presents evidence that the Arthus response does not play a role in the development of the lesions under the conditions of the experiments. The possible effects of acquired tolerance and similar phenomena on infectious diseases are also discussed.