Cell-mediated immunity in opossums (Trichosurus vulpecula): the responses to purified protein derivative and an unrelated antigen

Authors: Thomas MJ, Moriarty KM
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 31, Issue 4, pp 63-64, Apr 1983
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Possum, Wildlife
Subject Terms: Immune system/immunology, Nutrition/metabolism, Protein
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Since resistance to tuberculosis is a function of cell mediated immunity, the susceptibility of Australian brush-tailed opossums (Trichosurus vulpecula) to mycobacterial infection suggests a deficiency in this form of their immunity. Alternatively, opossums might be fully competent in their cullular immunity but fail to respond specifically to mycobacterial antigens. As part of a study of cell-mediated immunity in opossums the responses of these animals to a mycobacterial antigen, purified protein derivative (PPD), and to an unrelated innocuous antigen, human gamma globulin (HGG) were compared using intradermal skin tests and lymphocyte transformation. The responses given by the opossums were compared with those given to the same antigens by guinea pigs, a species widely used for investigating cell mediated responses. The opossums and IO albino guinea pigs were each injected into their right hind foot-pads with a mixture of 100µg of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 100µg of HGG in 100µg of Freund’s complete adjuvant (Difco, Detroit)…

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