[Possible circulation of R. prowazekii among animals (according to data of serological studies)].

The authors present the results of serological studies of the sera obtained from various animal species in the complement fixation test of agglutination with rickettsial antigens, particularly with the R. prowazeki antigen. The Proteus OX19 antigen was also used to ascertain the true nature of the positive agglutination test of the sera of domestic animals with the R. prowazeki antigen; immunochemical analysis of the sera in Sephadex G-200 gel was employed. Agglutinins to the R. prowazeki antigen in sera of domestic animals were found to be nonspecific. In the majority of the cases the antibodies detected by this antigen were apparently induced by the contacts of the animal organism with other causative agents both or rickettsial and nonrickettsial nature, particularly with Proteus OX19 (having antigens common with R. prowazeki). The results are discussed in connection with the Reiss-Gutfreund hypothesis on the circulation of typhus causative agent among the animals.