THE RAPID PRODUCTION OF ANTIDYSENTERIC SERUM

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Bacillary dysentery remains a significant public health concern, necessitating effective therapeutic interventions.
• The development of potent antidysenteric serum is crucial for combating infections caused by various *Shigella* species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a safe and efficient protocol for producing high-titer polyvalent antidysenteric serum in horses.
• To evaluate the immunogenicity and therapeutic potential of the prepared serum against acute bacillary dysentery.

Main Methods:

• Horses were immunized with three successive intravenous injections of living *Shigella* cultures or toxins, with seven-day intervals.
• Alternating inoculation with Shiga and Flexner *Shigella* strains generated a polyvalent immune response.

Main Results:

• Specific antibodies for agglutination and protection appeared early and increased rapidly following immunization.
• A polyvalent serum with a high titer was successfully prepared, indicating broad efficacy.
• The immunization process was completed within approximately ten weeks.

Conclusions:

• The described immunization method is safe and effective for producing high-titer antidysenteric serum in horses.
• The resulting polyvalent serum is suitable for the therapeutic treatment of acute bacillary dysentery, regardless of the infecting *Shigella* strain.
• This approach offers a timely and viable solution for producing essential therapeutic agents against dysentery.