Bert D. Thorpe

Effect of properdin on whole body irradiated mice and rats.

Summary Under conditions employed postirradiation treatment of mice and rats with partially purified bovine properdin and purified human properdin administered intraperitoneally or intravenously did not afford protection against the effects of whole body x-irradiation. There appeared to be a relationship between delayed mortality and time of injection.

ARBOVIRUS COMPLEMENT FIXING ANTIBODIES IN SERA OF WILDLIFE OF WEST CENTRAL UTAH.

Summary In a survey for endemic diseases of the wildlife of West Central Utah, 9,100 serum samples were examined for the presence of complement fixing antibodies against 4 arboviruses; eastern (EEE), western (WEE), Venezuelan (VEE) and St. Louis (SLE) equine encephalomyelitis. Antibody titers of 1:16 or greater, with no cross reaction evident, were found in 6 specimens from 4 animal species against EEE, 57 from 9 species against VEE and 29 from 7 species and 89 from 10 species against WEE and SLE respectively. In addition to these reactors, 162 other serum samples were found to be positive with two or more of these arbo-virus antigens. Only WEE and SLE are known to be present in this region based upon known outbreaks and previous studies of others. We express gratitude to Peter Olsen and Everett Morse for collecting and processing the samples and to Doris Dickson for technical assistance.

Failure of cell-free spleen extracts to protect irradiated animals.

Summary Postradiation administration of cell-free mouse splenic extract to whole body x-irradiated mice (intraperitoneally) and guinea pigs (intramuscularly) did not result in protection against postradiation death. The treated animals died at an accelerated rate when compared to the controls.

Guinea pig antibody response following a secondary injection of Coxiella burnetti.

Summary Secondary Q fever antibody responses using Phase I and II complement fixing antigens were determined in guinea pigs after intraperitoneal, secondary injection 125 weeks later. As compared with non-secondarily injected controls, a slight negative antibody phase was observed, followed by significant antibody titers, these titers corresponding in magnitude to the number of organisms injected.