Studies On the Infectivity of Trachoma: IV. on the Bacteria Cultivable from Trachoma and Clinically Similar Conditions

Abstract

An investigation of the bacterial flora in 243 cases of uncomplicated trachoma has been made. For comparative purposes cultures were obtained also from the conjunctivae of (1) a group of normal persons, (2) 50 cases of spontaneous folliculosis in children. (3) 10 cases of inclusion blennorrhea, and (4) a variety of acute conjunctivitides of uncertain diagnosis. No organism cultivated was typical of trachoma. The flora did not vary with severity or clinical stages of the disease or with presence or absence of epithelial-cell inclusions. All bacteria encountered in trachoma were isolated with similar frequency in other eye conditions. The same bacteria were also found in normal eyes, although less often. Individually or pooled, each variety of organism isolated was inoculated a number of times into the conjunctivae of monkeys. Experimental trachoma was never induced even though the tissues from which the cultures were isolated did produce this condition. Filtrates of infectious trachomatous material when inoculated together with cultures supplied no supplementary factors capable of rendering the organisms specifically infectious. It is concluded that none of the bacteria cultivable from trachoma is able to induce the experimental disease in monkeys. From the Oscar Johnson Institute, Washington University School of Medicine. Conducted under a grant from the Commonwealth Fund of New York, N.Y. An investigation of the bacterial flora in 243 cases of uncomplicated trachoma has been made. For comparative purposes cultures were obtained also from the conjunctivae of (1) a group of normal persons, (2) 50 cases of spontaneous folliculosis in children. (3) 10 cases of inclusion blennorrhea, and (4) a variety of acute conjunctivitides of uncertain diagnosis. No organism cultivated was typical of trachoma. The flora did not vary with severity or clinical stages of the disease or with presence or absence of epithelial-cell inclusions. All bacteria encountered in trachoma were isolated with similar frequency in other eye conditions. The same bacteria were also found in normal eyes, although less often. Individually or pooled, each variety of organism isolated was inoculated a number of times into the conjunctivae of monkeys. Experimental trachoma was never induced even though the tissues from which the cultures were isolated did produce this condition. Filtrates of infectious trachomatous material when inoculated together with cultures supplied no supplementary factors capable of rendering the organisms specifically infectious. It is concluded that none of the bacteria cultivable from trachoma is able to induce the experimental disease in monkeys. From the Oscar Johnson Institute, Washington University School of Medicine. Conducted under a grant from the Commonwealth Fund of New York, N.Y.