Mycoplasma Infection and Arthritis of Chickens. In: Glynn LE, Schlumberger HD, editors. Experimental Models of Chronic Inflammatory Diseases. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 1977. pp. 240-55. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-66573-8_21]

Methods for Testing Immunological Factors

Hypersensitivity reactions can be elicited by various factors: either immunologically induced, i.e., allergic reactions to natural or synthetic compounds mediated by IgE, or non-immunologically induced, i.e., activation of mediator release from cells through direct contact, without the induction of, or the mediation through immune responses. Mediators responsible for hypersensitivity reactions are released from mast cells. An important preformed mediator of allergic reactions found in these cells is histamine. Specific allergens or the calcium ionophore 48/80 induce release of histamine from mast cells. The histamine concentration can be determined with the o-phthalaldehyde reaction.

Chronic arthritis of rabbits induced by mycoplasmas. II. Antibody response and the deposition of immune complexes

Chronic mycoplasms-induced arthritis of rabbits was accompanied by a highly active humoral immune response. Peak antibody titers coincided with the "disappearance" of mycoplasmas from joint tissues at 7 weeks. High synovial fluid antibody titers and immunoglobulin-producing cells in frozen sections of synovial membrane suggested local antibody production. Persistence of granular deposits containing IgG and complement in synovium and cartilage may be a mechanism for continuing inflammation in the apparent absence of cultivable mycoplasmas.