HOSP-PARASITE RELATIONSHIPS IN NATIVELY RESISTANT AND SUSCEPTIBLE RABBITS ON QUANTITATIVE INHALATION OF TUBERCLE BACILLI

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Abstract
In this paper the fate of human and bovine tubercle bacilli on quantitative inhalation by natively resistant and susceptible rabbits was studied. The bacillary population changes in the lung are similar to what is found in test tube cultures a latent phase, a lag phase, a phase of logarithmic growth, a negative acceleration phase, a stationary phase, and a phase of decline or tapering off of growth. Differences between human and bovine bacilli were also noted. The latent phase is shorter in the resistant animal infected with bovine bacilli than it is when the infection is of human origin. In both races, the logarithmic growth phase is extended an extra week with bovine bacilli and the stationary phase never really occurs, for the animals die. The human bacilli have a stationary phase and a phase of decline until they may eventually disappear. Acquired immunity is ineffective with disease of bovine origin, since the animals die. It may be clearly seen that, with either human or bovine infection, the level of acquired resistance is determined by and superimposed on the native resistance. The resistant animal infected with either human or bovine tubercle bacilli shows increased transport of the bacilli from the lungs to the draining lymph nodes or other organs.