Abstract
Summary Eleven of 17 rabbits immunized over a 24-week period with a total of 1.6 × 109 γ-irradiated, motile, non-proliferating Treponema pallidum, Nichols strain, were partially protected against challenge with 500 virulent treponemes as evidenced by delayed incubation periods and the development of atypical lesions. Thirteen of 15 rabbits which showed no immunity to challenge after a 12-week period of immunization with a total of 9.7 × 108 irradiated organisms exhibited relatively high pre-challenge TPI titers ranging from 1:208 to 1:7680. Similar high titers ranging from 1:84 to 1:4234 were obtained on sera from seven of the eleven animals with partial immunity after the 24-week period of immunization as compared to the relatively low titers of 1:14 to 1:22 exhibited by the remaining four animals in the group. In addition to the lack of apparent correlation between the level of Treponema pallidum immobilization antibody and the immune status of the host, no evidence of an anamnestic response to challenge was noted.
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