Brucella abortus antigen-induced lymphocyte reactivity in guinea pigs

A whole blood lymphocyte transformation (WBLT) assay was used to detect anti-brucella lymphocyte reactivity in guinea pigs. Brucella antigens stimulated an antigen-specific lymphoproliferative response in WBLT assays from Brucella abortus infected guinea pigs. The response was best detected from 6 to 16 weeks after challenge inoculation with viable B. abortus 2308. Lymphocytes were not stimulated by unrelated bacterial antigens and control animals did not respond to the Brucella antigens. The responding cell population was characterized as mostly T lymphocytes. The WBLT assay was found to be specific for the detection of anti-brucella lymphocyte reactivity. However, a negative response was not definitive, which indicated a need for repeated testing to establish that a guinea pig did not have anti-brucella lymphocyte sensitization.