ENCEPHALITIS INDUCED IN RABBITS BY STAPHYLOCOCCAL LIPOTEICHOIC ACID

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Abstract
Rabbits were immunized with staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in Freund''s adjuvant. After 4 injections (6 wk) the rabbits showed decreased activity and unsteadiness of the head. Two wk after the 6th injection (10 wk), 2 of 5 rabbits developed clinical signs of encephalitis with nystagmus, ataxia, general weakness, decreased activity and dragging of the hind legs. The other 3 animals showed only mild symptoms. Neuropathological examination showed inflammatory infiltrates containing small lymphocytes and some plasma cells in the leptomeninges and within the perivascular spaces of the brain. Evidently an experimental allergic encephalomyelitis-like encephalitis developed in rabbits after immunization with LTA from Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I. The possible significance of this observation in relation to [human] multiple sclerosis is discussed.