EFFECTS PRODUCED BY THE INTRAVENOUS INJECTION IN MAN OF A TOXIC ANTIGENIC MATERIAL DERIVED FROM EBERTHELLA TYPHOSA: CLINICAL, HEMATOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL AND SEROLOGICAL STUDIES

Abstract

An antigenic material prepared from cultures of E. typhosa in a synthetic medium was administered to human subjects in various amts. The effects following intraven. injn. consisted in chills, fever, perspiration, muscular aching and the development of a leucopenia. The latter, due almost entirely to a decrease in polymorpho-nuclear leucocytes, was followed by a subsequent leuco-cytosis with a marked increase in the % of stab cells. No marked changes were observed in blood chemistry during or immediately following the reaction. The sedimentation rate of erythrocytes rose after the injn. of the antigenic material. High titers of agglutinins, precipitins and bactericidal antibodies were obtained following the injn. of the antigen. The antibody levels remained high for considerable periods of time. Some tolerance to the toxic effects of the antigen developed upon repeated doses. The titer of antibodies did not seem to be closely related to this tolerance.