Evaluation of local toxicity after repeated intranasal vaccination of guinea-pigs

In intranasal vaccination it is important that the adjuvant does not have any toxic effect on the sensitive nasal mucosa. In this study a histological and clinical evaluation of the effects of two different adjuvants in a vaccine containing detoxified diphtheria (DT) and tetanus toxoid (TT) in guinea pigs was done. The guinea pigs were divided in four groups and treated daily for 14 days with different formulations. Group I with saline, Groups 2 and 3 with the vaccines in a non-ionic surfactant formulation containing glycerides and Group 4 with tetraethyleneglycol formulation containing glycofurol. The guinea pigs in Groups 1, 2 and 4 were sacrificed on day 15 and Group 3, 1 week later and the tissues processed for histological examination. The animals remained healthy during the treatment and minor clinical signs, such as nose-blowing, decreased with time. The histological appearance, including the development of lymphoid tissue, was comparable in all groups. A specific toxic effect on the nasal mucosa by the different vaccine and adjuvant formulations was not observed.