Abstract
Three female rabbits, venereally infected with T. paraluis-cuniculi between 5-8 mo. previously, had treponeme-containing genital lesions and positive results to serological tests for syphilis. These rabbits and 4 normal female rabbits were challenged with T. pallidum intradermally on the shaved back with triplicate doses of 104, 103, 102 and 10 treponemes (all at different sites). Significantly fewer syphilitic lesions developed in the rabbits previously infected with T. paraluis-cuniculi (4/36) compared with the control rabbits (37/48) and the mean size of the lesions (diameter of induration) was significantly less (4 mm compared with 10 mm). Previous venereal infection of female rabbits with T. paraluis-cuniculi apparently induced a level of cross-immunity against infection with T. pallidum. Protection was not complete.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: