Changes in Immunity and Antitoxin Level Immediately after Secondary Stimulus with Tetanus Toxoid in Rabbits

Abstract

Summary Injections of 5 Lf of fluid tetanus toxoid were given to 79 rabbits. Four weeks later circulating antitoxin was measurable in all but six of the animals. At that time booster injections of 5 Lf fluid tetanus toxoid were given to experimental groups whereas other groups were maintained nonstimulated. At various times from 3 hr to 8 days after the stimulus blood samples were taken from all rabbits, after which an intramuscular injection of 1000 lethal rabbit doses of tetanus was given. Prolongation in survival time was shown to start immediately after the stimulus whereas antitoxin level showed no significant rise in the first 2 days after stimulus. It is inferred that the lag in antitoxin response after tetanus booster dose not reflect a lack of response in terms of total body immunity.