Maturation of humoral immune response determines the susceptibility of guinea-pigs to leptospirosis.
Baby guinea-pigs were susceptible to infection with Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona, but rapidly became resistant as they matured. Increased resistance with increasing weight of guinea-pigs was correlated with the development of ability to produce agglutinating antibodies to leptospires and with maturation of B-cell dependent (but not T-cell dependent) areas in lymphoid organs. These observations can explain the basis of species-resistance of adult guinea-pigs to infection with serovar pomona.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000276:immunology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology