[Immunogenic properties of Clostridium perfringens type A anatheta-hemolysin]

Guinea-pigs were immunized with anatheta-hemolysin preparations adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide, as well as with the mixture of anatheta-hemolysin and type A Cl. perfringens toxoid, purified and concentrated. Anatheta hemolysin preparations were obtained with the use of homogeneous theta hemolysin, as well theta hemolysin of various purification degrees. As a result, antatheta hemolytic guinea-pig sera capable of neutralizing 2,000-8,000 HU of theta-hemolysin were obtained. Tests made to establish the degree of protection in the immunized guinea-pigs did not show that the animals immunized with the mixture of anatheta-hemolysin and type A Cl. perfringens toxoid, purified and concentrated, had any advantages in the degree of protection over the animals immunized with the toxoid alone. But there is no doubt that this component plays a positive role under the conditions of natural gas gangrene when the hemolytic action of Cl. perfringens toxin becomes considerably pronounced.