Experimental Observations on a Skin-Test Antigen for Western Equine Encephalomyelitis

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Abstract
Summary: Allantoic and amniotic fluids infected with WEE virus were treated with formalin and examined for possible usefulness as skin-test antigens to detect immunity to this virus. Rabbits immunized to the WEE virus reacted to intracutaneous inoculation of the antigen with the production of erythema and induration at the site of injection. The reaction reached its maximum at 24 to 36 hours. Non-virus-containing material did not elicit a comparable reaction. Nonimmune rabbits showed little dermal reaction to the specific viral antigen. Intracutaneous injection of the material (0.1 ml), however, resulted in the appearance of neutralizing antibodies. Application of the antigen to epidemiologic studies is suggested by the experimental data presented but its usefulness for this purpose has yet to be determined.

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