EFFECTS OF CORTISONE ON EXPERIMENTAL MURINE TYPHUS I

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Abstract
Ten-day-old hamsters are susceptible to intraperitoneal infection with murine typhus. After the 18th day, resistance was established and the hamster no longer succumbed to infection. Although no apparent signs of infection are present in 4-week-old hamsters, typhus rickettsiae were shown to be retained in the tissues and to multiply. The rickettsiae can be recovered 24 days after infection. The adult male hamster response to typhus infection is evidenced by the production of a scrotal reaction. Large numbers of rickettsiae are required, however, for production of this reaction. Cortisone treatment can transform a latent quiescent infection into an active, fatal infection 24 days after initial infection in the hamster. Cortisone treatment greatly increases the susceptibility of the Syrian hamster to murine typhus infection. Continued cortisone treatment suppresses the scrotal reaction, but brings about a fatal infection.