Immunofluorescence of peritoneal phagocytes after infection of mice with L-cell-attenuated Chlamydia psittaci 6BC.

Large amounts of particulate antigen of Chlamydia psittaci 6BC attenuated by growth in L cells were phagocytized by peritoneal mononuclear phagocytes during the 1st h after intraperitoneal inoculation. The phagocytes subsequently destroyed the immunofluorescent (IF) properties of the chlamydial antigens. It is suggested that the early damage of phagocytes by lysosomal enzymes activation induced by chlamydiae contributed to the relatively early disappearance of IF antigens from the peritoneal fluids.