[Increased streptomycin sensitivity and its associations with microbial allergy]

Regularities of streptomycin hypersensitivity development and its association with microbial allergy were studied on 75 guinea pigs. A model of retarded allergy was obtained by the animal sensitization with streptomycin in doses of 20 000 gamma per 1 kg of the body weight. Two procedures were used for the animal sensitization, i.e. with the use of the Freund adjuvant or without it. Positive skin-allergic tests to streptomycin (mainly 24-hour) were registered 2 weeks after discontinuation of the sensitization and persisted for the whole observation period (up to 6--8 weeks). The tests for the leucocyte migration were also positive and precipitating antibodies were found in the serum according to the Hoigné method. Simultaneous sensitization with streptomycin and staphylococci resulted in some suppression of the development of retarded hypersensitivity to the microbial antigen. Subsequent sensitization at first with staphylococci and then with streptomycin favoured a mutual increase in the allergic reconstruction to both antigens. The histomorphological studies confirmed the data of the immunoallergological examination.