Inhibition by Coxiella burnetii of ascites tumour formation in mice.

Mice injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with killed purified Coxiella burnetii organisms were protected from ascites development and death caused by i.p. inoculation of sarcoma-180 cells. The extent of protection was a function of the relative dose of C. burnetii and tumour cells, and of the time of injection of C. burnetii. Phase II C. burnetii organisms exerted an antitumour protection at least as high as phase I C. burnetii organisms.