Experimental infection of inbred guinea pigs with Treponema pallidum: development of lesions and formation of antibodies.

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Abstract
Inbred strain 2 and strain 13 guinea pigs were infected intradermally in the hind legs with different numbers of the virulent Nichols strain of T. pallidum. About 91% of the animals developed clearly visible lesions after being injected with 5 .times. 106-10 .times. 106 treponemes. T. pallidum organisms were isolated from skin lesions at various stages after infection. Infected animals were monitored for the production of specific treponemal and nonspecific cadiolipin antibodies by the fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA) and microhemagglutination (MHA-TP) tests and the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) card test. Low levels of specific antibodies were detected by FTA and MHA-TP tests from 3-4 wk after infection. Maximum titers of treponemal antibody generally occurred after wk 6 and persisted for several more months. These peak titers ranged from 1/40-1/80 in the FTA test and 1/160-1/320 in the MHA-TP test. During the same period infected guinea pigs, unlike rabbits with syphilis, did not produce detectable quantities of antibodies against cardiolipin.