Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The American Journal of Pathology logoLink to The American Journal of Pathology
. 1985 Feb;118(2):248–255.

Reinfection of chancre-immune rabbits with Treponema pallidum. I. Light and immunofluorescence studies.

S Sell, J Salman, S J Norris
PMCID: PMC1887877  PMID: 3881974

Abstract

Inoculation of infectious Treponema pallidum into the skin of chancre-immune rabbits results in a limited inflammatory response. Intact organisms are identifiable by immunofluorescence in the dermis of the infection site for 1-2 days. By Day 3 structurally intact T pallidum are seen localized in hair follicles, erector pili muscles, and cutaneous nerves, while inflammatory cells containing fluorescent (T pallidum) fragments are seen in the dermis. After Day 6 intact organisms are no longer found. It is proposed that hair follicles, erector pili muscles, and particularly nerves may provide relatively protected sites for T pallidum, and that T pallidum may migrate within nerves. Clearance of organisms from the infected site appears to be mediated by phagocytosis and digestion by macrophages as a result of an accelerated delayed hypersensitivity response, but antibody-mediated destruction and T pallidum migration may also be involved.

Full text

PDF
248

Images in this article

251Figure 1
on p.251
252Figure 2
on p.252
253Figure 3
on p.253

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Azar H. A., Pham T. D., Kurban A. K. An electron microscopic study of a syphilitic chancre. Engulfment of Treponema pallidum by plasma cells. Arch Pathol. 1970 Aug;90(2):143–150. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Baker-Zander S., Sell S. A histopathologic and immunologic study of the course of syphilis in the experimentally infected rabbit. Demonstration of long-lasting cellular immunity. Am J Pathol. 1980 Nov;101(2):387–414. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Collart P., Franceschini P., Durel P. Experimental rabbit syphilis. Br J Vener Dis. 1971 Dec;47(6):389–400. doi: 10.1136/sti.47.6.389. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cook M. L., Bastone V. B., Stevens J. G. Evidence that neurons harbor latent herpes simplex virus. Infect Immun. 1974 May;9(5):946–951. doi: 10.1128/iai.9.5.946-951.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. JOHNSON R. T. THE PATHOGENESIS OF HERPES VIRUS ENCEPHALITIS. I. VIRUS PATHWAYS TO THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF SUCKLING MICE DEMONSTRATED BY FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY STAINING. J Exp Med. 1964 Feb 1;119:343–356. doi: 10.1084/jem.119.2.343. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Knotts F. B., Cook M. L., Stevens J. G. Latent herpes simplex virus in the central nervous system of rabbits and mice. J Exp Med. 1973 Sep 1;138(3):740–744. doi: 10.1084/jem.138.3.740. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Lauderdale V., Goldman J. N. Serial ultrathin sectioning demonstrating the intracellularity of T. Pallidum. An electron microscopic study. Br J Vener Dis. 1972 Apr;48(2):87–96. doi: 10.1136/sti.48.2.87. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Lukehart S. A., Baker-Zander S. A., Lloyd R. M., Sell S. Characterization of lymphocyte responsiveness in early experimental syphilis. II. Nature of cellular infiltration and Treponema pallidum distribution in testicular lesions. J Immunol. 1980 Jan;124(1):461–467. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lukehart S. A., Baker-Zander S. A., Sell S. Characterization of lymphocyte responsiveness in early experimental syphilis. I. In vitro response to mitogens and Treponema pallidum antigens. J Immunol. 1980 Jan;124(1):454–460. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. MAGNUSON H. J., THOMAS E. W., OLANSKY S., KAPLAN B. I., DE MELLO L., CUTLER J. C. Inoculation syphilis in human volunteers. Medicine (Baltimore) 1956 Feb;35(1):33–82. doi: 10.1097/00005792-195602000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Medici M. A. The immunoprotective niche--a new pathogenic mechanism for syphilis, the systemic mycoses and other infectious diseases. J Theor Biol. 1972 Sep;36(3):617–625. doi: 10.1016/0022-5193(72)90012-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Ovcinnikov N. M., Delektorskij V. V. Current concepts of the morphology and biology of Treponema pallidum based on electron microscopy. Br J Vener Dis. 1971 Oct;47(5):315–328. doi: 10.1136/sti.47.5.315. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Ovcinnikov N. M., Delektorskij V. V. Treponema pallidum in nerve fibres. Br J Vener Dis. 1975 Feb;51(1):10–18. doi: 10.1136/sti.51.1.10. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Ovcinnikov N. M., Delektrskij V. V. Ultrafine structure of te cell elements in hard chancres of the rabbit and their interrelationship with Treponema pallidum. Bull World Health Organ. 1970;42(3):437–444. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Sell S., Baker-Zander S., Powell H. C. Experimental syphilitic orchitis in rabbits: ultrastructural appearance of Treponema pallidum during phagocytosis and dissolution by macrophages in vivo. Lab Invest. 1982 Apr;46(4):355–364. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Sell S., Gamboa D., Baker-Zander S. A., Lukehart S. A., Miller J. N. Host response to Treponema pallidum in intradermally-infected rabbits: evidence for persistence of infection at local and distant sites. J Invest Dermatol. 1980 Dec;75(6):470–475. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12524230. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sell S., Norris S. J. The biology, pathology, and immunology of syphilis. Int Rev Exp Pathol. 1983;24:203–276. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Sykes J. A., Kalan J. Intracellular Treponema pallidum in cells of a syphilitic lesion of the uterine cervix. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1975 Jun 1;122(3):361–367. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(75)90185-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Sykes J. A., Miller J. N. Intracellular location of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) in the rabbit testis. Infect Immun. 1971 Sep;4(3):307–314. doi: 10.1128/iai.4.3.307-314.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Sykes J. A., Miller J. N., Kalan A. J. Treponema pallidum within cells of a primary chancre from a human female. Br J Vener Dis. 1974 Feb;50(1):40–44. doi: 10.1136/sti.50.1.40. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The American Journal of Pathology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Investigative Pathology

RESOURCES