OCULAR AND DERMAL DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS IN GUINEA-PIGS FOLLOWING INFECTION WITH GUINEA-PIG INCLUSION CONJUNCTIVITIS AGENT (CHLAMYDIA-PSITTACI)

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (1) , 57-62
Abstract
Guinea pigs, which were sensitized to guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis agent by ocular infection, were given ocular and dermal challenges with a range of agent doses. Ocular delayed-type hypersensitivity [DTH] responses were elicited by a wide range of doses. Such responses were associated with the presence of chlamydial inclusions and inflammatory cells. The EID50 [estimated infective dose] for ocular reinfection was only slightly higher than that for primary ocular infection. Dermal DTH reactions were produced only when high agent doses were used. The relevance of these observations to human chlamydial eye disease is discussed.