Cellular and humoral immune response to guinea pig infected with Treponema pallidum

Abstract

Guinea pigs infected intradermally with Treponema pallidum Nichols strain were examined for the presence of lesions and for cellular and humoral response. Of the 26 guinea pigs (77%) demonstrated darkfield positive lesions between 6 and 20 days after infection. Animals divided into six groups of 4-5 in each were sacrificed between 2 and 24 weeks. The peritoneal exudate cells, obtained 4 days after injection of oil, were examined by the direct and the cells from lymphoid organs by the indirect capillary leukocyte migration method in the presence of 10 and 30 mug/ml of Reiter antigen. The peritoneal exudate cells responded with enhancement of leukocyte migration, reaching significant values between 6 and 24 weeks after injection. The cells from the lymphoid organs showed enhancement of leukocyte migration until the 4th week of infection. Treponemal antibodies, found in all animals, started to appear at the 4th week reaching a maximum titer at the 12th week after infection. The appearance of the antibodies correlated well (p less than 0.05) with the appearance of the enhancement of leukocyte migration. Wassermann antibodies were not detected throughout the 24 weeks of infection. The unique immune responses are discussed in view of the available data concerning natural acquired and experimental syphilis.