Experimental otitis media in chinchillas following nasal colonization with type 7F Streptococcus pneumoniae: prevention after vaccination with pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide

Chinchillas were colonized intranasally with type 7F Streptococcus pneumoniae, and pneumococcal otitis media developed in greater than 50% of the animals during the first week after negative middle ear pressure (-25 mm Hg) was briefly applied. Twenty-three chinchillas were vaccinated subcutaneously with the capsular polysaccharde of type 7F S. pneumoniae to determine whether vaccination could prevent the development of experimental otitis media. Following vaccination, 14 animals seroconverted with at least a twofold rise in serum antibody concentration; nine animals that were vaccinated did not seroconvert. All of 23 vaccinated animals and 42 of 42 unvaccinated control animals became colonized after intranasal inoculation with pneumococci. Only one (7%) of the vaccinated seroconverting animals developed pneumococcal otitis media, whereas 26 (62%) of the control animals developed middle ear infection with type 7F pneumococci. Four (44%) of nine vaccinated nonseroconverting animals developed pneumococcal otitis media. Protection was associated with high levels of serum antibody prior to intranasal inoculation. Higher antibody levels were found in sterile middle ear effusions than in S. pneumoniae-infected effusions. Vaccination with type 7F pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide significantly reduced the incidence of pneumococcal otitis media following intranasal inoculation of type 7F S. pneumoniae in chinchillas.