Immunity to influenza in ferrets. V. Immunization with inactivated virus in adjuvant 65

Abstract

Ferrets infected with influenza virus A2/Hong Kong/3/68 responded with a febrile reaction; the temperature was elevated by 1.0 degrees C. or greater to a level of 40 degrees C. or more. In addition, relatively high titres of virus were recovered from nasal washings taken 3 days after virus infection, serum antibody was produced, increased nasal protein was detected and nasal washings contained both HI and neutralizing antibody. Of four ferrets immunized with 400 CCA units of inactivated influenza virus A2/Aichi/2/68 in saline, only one produced detectable serum HI antibody, and none produced detectable nasal antibody. These ferrets were subsequently found to be susceptible to intranasal infection with influenza virus A2/Hong Kong/3/68. Thus, the temperature response, the titre of virus recovered from nasal washings and the serum HI antibody response found after virus infection was similar to that found after infection of non-immunized ferrets. However, the increase in protein concentration and the titre of HI and neutralizing antibody found in nasal washings after virus infection was detectably less than that found after virus infection of non-immunized ferrets.Four ferrets were immunized with 400 CCA units of inactivated A2/Aichi/2/68 virus in adjuvant 65, and these ferrets produced relatively high titres of serum HI antibody but no detectable nasal antibody. After subsequent virus infection with influenza virus A2/Hong Kong/3/68, these ferrets showed a modified temperature response, reduced titres of virus in nasal washings compared to that found in nasal washings from non-immunized ferrets, no increase in nasal protein and no detectable nasal HI antibody. Thus, immunization with inactivated virus in adjuvant 65 resulted in a significant modification of the response of ferrets to challenge virus; however, the immunity was not complete, and appreciably less than that found after infection with live homologous virus.