Passive transfer of johnin hypersensitivity with reactivity resembling clinical paratuberculosis in calves.

Whole blood, white blood cells, plasma, and "febrile plasma" from an artificially hypersensitized bull were transfused, via catheter, into the mesenteric arteries of calves. After 1 to 3 days, the hypersensitivity of each calf was determined by the intra-arterial administration of johnin. Fever and diarrhea followed johnin administration in the calves that had been given whole blood or white blood cells, and diarrhea followed johnin administration in one calf that had been given plasma. Fever and diarrhea developed rapidly in the calves given "febrile plasma." The results provided additional evidence that the fever and diarrhea of bovine Johne's disease are hypersensitivity phenomena which can be successfully transferred to calves and that the febrile response is cell-mediated; evidence that humoral antibody is involved is suggestive but not convincing.