[Animal experiments on combined local immunization against influenza (author's transl)]

Mice in ether narcosis were immunized 10 times by means of an inhalation spray with Begrivacs S (Behring-Werke) and then infected nasally with the virulent A/PR8 virus 7 to 12 days after the last immunization. A significant protection was achieved as gauged from the mortality rate. Furthermore, mice were nasally immunized with the polyvalent bacterial lysate vaccine IRS 19 (Sarbach, Chatillon) and subsequently infected nasally with the virulent influenza virus. A significant degree of non-specific protection also developed under these conditions, but was less effective than that after specific immunization. The best protective effect can be gained by applying both vaccines (Begrivac S and IRS 19) in combination. In this case, the mortality rate of the test animals decreases from 68% in the control to 31% in the animals receiving combined vaccination.