COPROANTIBODY AND BACTERIAL ANTAGONISM AS PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN EXPERIMENTAL ENTERIC CHOLERA

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Abstract
Passive oral immunization with O-antiserum protected guinea pigs against fatal enteric cholera. Passive intraperitoneal immunization was not protective even though high titers of circulating antibody were obtained shortly after injection. Serum agglutinin titers resulting from passive intraperitoneal immunization were not noticeably decreased in infected animals as compared to non-infected controls. Active and oral passive immunization, though protective, did not noticeably reduce the number of vibrios recoverable from the intestines of infected animals. Introduction of Escherichia coli into the intestinal tract increased the resistance of guinea pigs to fatal enteric cholera. These results were taken to indicate 2 protective mechanisms involving normal enteric flora and coproantibody, but not circulating antibody. Possible implications of these findings for prophylactic immunization to enteric diseases are discussed.