Brucella abortus antigen-induced lymphocyte reactivity in guinea pigs

A whole blood lymphyocyte transformation (WBLT) assay was used to detect anti-brucella lymphocyte reactivity in guinea pigs. Brucella antigens stimulated an antigen-specific lymphoproliferative response in WBLT assays from $\text{Brucella abortus}$ infected guinea pigs. The response was best detected from 6 to 16 weeks after challenge inoculation with viable $\text{B. abortus}$ 2308. Lymphocytes were not stimulated by unrelated bacterial antigens and control animals did not respond to the Brucella antigens. The responding cell population was characterized as mostly T lymphocytes. The WBLT assay was found to be specific for the detection of anti-brucella lymphocyte reactivity. However, a negative response was not definitive, which indicated a need for repeated testing to establish that a guinea pig did not have anti-brucella lymphocyte sensitization.