ETIOLOGY OF OROYA FEVER : XV. EFFECT OF IMMUNE SERUM ON THE COURSE OF BARTONELLA BACILLIFORMIS INFECTION IN MACACUS RHESUS

Experiments are reported on the effect upon the course of experimental verruga peruana in Macacus rhesus of the injection of (1) small quantities of rabbit immune serum simultaneously with living cultures, (2) one large dose of convalescent monkey serum 24 hours prior to inoculation, (3) a similar preliminary dose followed by three subsequent injections of the serum, (4) three large doses of convalescent serum, following the inoculation. The convalescent serum was found (1) to prevent the multiplication of Bartonella bacilliformis in the blood in most instances, and (2) to delay the development of the skin lesions for considerable periods, when given before inoculation. When the serum treatment was not begun until after the appearance of the skin lesions, it had no effect on the progress of the nodules, although the blood became free from Bartonella bacilliformis. Since the severe effects of verruga peruana (Carrion's disease) are believed to be due to the multiplication of Bartonella bacilliformis within the blood, the injection of convalescent serum in cases of Carrion's disease in man would appear to offer promise.