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FURTHER EXPERIMENTS IN TYPHUS FEVER : IV. INFECTION WITH WASHED MEXICAN RICKETTSIAE AND IMMUNITY TO EUROPEAN TYPHUS
1Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Harvard University Medical School, Boston.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Inoculating guinea pigs with Mexican typhus fever Rickettsiae caused a disease and immunity to European typhus fever. This suggests Rickettsiae are the cause of both typhus fever types, differing slightly.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Typhus fever is a group of diseases caused by Rickettsia bacteria.
- Previous research has identified Rickettsia bodies in infected guinea pigs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if Rickettsiae from Mexican typhus fever can cause disease and immunity in guinea pigs.
- To compare the etiological agents of Mexican and European typhus fever.
Main Methods:
- Guinea pigs were inoculated with washed Rickettsiae from Mexican typhus fever.
- Disease development and immune response were observed.
- Comparison with results from inoculations with whole tunica scrapings, blood, or other virulent material.
Main Results:
- Inoculation with washed Rickettsiae induced a disease identical to that caused by other virulent materials.
- Inoculated guinea pigs developed immunity to European typhus fever.
- The etiological agent of Mexican typhus fever was identified as Rickettsia bodies.
Conclusions:
- Washed Rickettsiae from Mexican typhus fever are infectious and immunogenic.
- The etiological agent of Mexican typhus fever is the Rickettsia body described by Mooser.
- European typhus fever likely shares a similar etiological agent, with minor biological differences.
