Neurotoxic Symptoms Produced in the Syrian Hamster (Cricetus Auratus) by Diphtherial Toxin

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Abstract
The original purpose of this study was to produce a potent diphtherial toxin. We were compelled, however, to use the Syrian hamster as an experimental animal due to a shortage of guinea-pigs.* This gave us the opportunity to observe certain differences between the reactions of these two species towards the toxin and these differences are the subject of the present paper. Hamsters have been employed by many authors in experiments with diphtheria toxin. Fan and Lim (1) used Cricetulus griseus for the titration of toxin and antitoxin; Lu and Zia (2) employed the Chinese hamster in testing the virulence of C. diphtheriae; and T'ung and Zia (3) determined the pathogenicity of different types of C. diphtheriae for the Chinese hamster. Ashbel and Poliakowa (4), using the Syrian hamster in virulence tests, described changes in the adrenals after the injection of cultures of C. diphtheriae. Experimental.

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