[The effect of Clostridium tetani cultures on immunization with tetanus anatoxin in an experiment].

The paper presents the data on the study, carried out on 383 guinea pigs, of the action of C.tetani cultures on immune reactions of the animals after the injection of tetanus toxoid. The state of the humoral and cell-mediated immunity of the animals (in the hemagglutination inhibition test, the neutralization test, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the skin allergic test with tetanin), as well as their resistance to challenge with C.tetani. The inhibiting effect of C.tetani on primary immune response to tetanus toxoid and their stimulating effect on secondary immune response have been established. This fact may be used for enhancing the quality of antitetanus preparations, such as toxoid and serum, as well as for working out tactical approaches for the rapid prevention of tetanus.