The Mechanism of Antitoxic Immunity in Clostridium perfringens (Welchii) Infections in Guinea Pigs

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Abstract
Phagocytic cells play an active part in the mechanism of antitoxic immunity in perfringens toxoid-immunized guinea pigs inoculated with viable culture of a virulent, rapidly invasive strain of Cl. perfringens. By intraperit. inoculation of the culture and hourly examination of peritoneal fluid withdrawn, it was possible to demonstrate the effect of antitoxin on phagocytic activity. As the exotoxin of the inoculated culture became neutralized by the circulating antitoxin present the phagocytic cells behaved toward the virulent bacilli in the same way they would towards inert substances or towards non-pathogenic bacteria. Within a few hrs., all the bacteria were found to be phagocytosed and removed from the peritoneal cavity. In non-immunized animals, although some attempt was made to remove the inoculated culture by infiltration of leucocytes, the toxin soon destroyed the infiltrated cells, with a resulting increase in the number of bacteria and death of the animal.

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