ENHANCED RESISTANCE OF MICE TO MYCOPLASMA-PULMONIS-INDUCED ARTHRITIS BY ADMINISTRATION OF KILLED CORYNEBACTERIUM-PARVUM

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (2) , 355-362
Abstract
Inoculation of mice with C. parvum (P. acnes) 14 days before i.p. inoculation of M. pulmonis resulted in arthritis of significantly lesser magnitude than in control mice as measured both clinically and histologically. Mycoplasms were isolated from the joints of mice inoculated with C. parvum less frequently than from control mice when the arthritis was maximal. Mycoplasmas were also isolated in smaller numbers from the blood and joints of mice pretreated with C. parvum within 2 h after M. pulmonis inoculation. Complement-fixing antibody to M. pulmonis did not account for the differences observed. C. parvum given during an established mycoplasmal infection, although capable of enhancing elimination of M. pulmonis from the joints of infected mice, had no effect upon the arthritis as measured clinically or histologically. Thus, immunomodulators, such as C. parvum, evidently are capable of enhancing elimination of mycoplasmas from the joints of infected mice prior to or after the induction of arthritis.