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HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCUS LYMPHADENITIS IN GUINEA PIGS
1Department of Animal and Plant Pathology of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, New Jersey.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Chronic streptococcus infection in guinea pigs can be transmitted through ingestion. Infection with mild strains surprisingly protected against a fatal variant, suggesting complex immunity not mediated by antibodies.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Naturally occurring chronic streptococcus cervical lymphadenitis in guinea pigs was investigated.
- The disease is transmissible via pure cultures of streptococci isolated from abscesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transmission, immune response, and strain variation of streptococcus cervical lymphadenitis in guinea pigs.
- To understand the protective mechanisms against a virulent streptococcal strain.
Main Methods:
- Studying guinea pigs with chronic streptococcus cervical lymphadenitis.
- Isolating and culturing streptococci from abscesses.
- Observing disease transmission, including a fatal variant.
- Assessing immunity through passive transfer and antibody detection.
- Investigating strain dissociation and non-invasive phases.
Main Results:
- Transmission occurred primarily through ingestion of the infective agent.
- Infection with chronic strains conferred protection against a highly virulent strain.
- This immunity could not be passively transferred and was not associated with detectable antibodies, opsonization, precipitation, or bactericidal activity.
- Allergy was not correlated with immunity.
- Dissociation of chronic and acute strains yielded non-invasive phases, with no demonstrable antigenic virulence factor.
Conclusions:
- Chronic streptococcus infection in guinea pigs involves complex immunity not mediated by conventional antibodies.
- Ingestion is a probable natural transmission route.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the non-antibody-based protective mechanisms and virulence factors.
