Abstract
The biological conditions of the production of neuraminidase by <i>Trichomonas fetus</i> were investigated. The optimal glucose concentration was found to be 1%. N-acetylmannosamine induces the neuraminidase production in <i>Trichomonas fetus</i> in the same manner as in some bacteria. Furthermore, serum is an important constituent of the <i>Trichomonas fetus</i> medium. The cells are growing, however, by help of four of eleven sera investigated in this study, i.e. human serum, serum of rabbit, sheep, and cattle or calf. Especially the calf serum is the best growth- and enzyme-promoting agent. The neuraminidase production increases proportionally with the serum concentration in a range of 0-50 %. Therefore, the pathogenic role of neuraminidase can be concluded indirectly. The discussion represents four hypotheses explaining the interruption of pregnancy by neuraminidase. Unmascing histocompatibility antigens on trophoblast by enzymatic removal of sialic acid and the subsequent immune response of maternal organism. Neuraminidase terminates pregnancy by local interference with the embryo sustaining functions of the uterine decidua. Antigenicity of enzymatically inactive microbial neuraminidase attached on the trophoblast and subsequently by cross-reacting immune response also against the fetus. Enzymatic inactivation of the chorionic gonadotropin on trophoblastic surface, because chorionic gonadotropin normally blocks the action of immunocompetent maternal lymphocytes so that the mother accepts her fetus as an allograft.
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