Experimental urinary tract infection in rabbits by a group D Streptococcus sp.: a study of serum immunoglobulin classes by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

After induction of pyelonephritis and cystitis in rabbits by a group D streptococcus, the authors measured the specific serum antibody response in the three major immunoglobulin classes. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed using group D streptococcal antigen extracted by phenol. Before experimentation, all rabbits had low IgM, IgG and IgA titres against group D streptococcal antigen. A marked increase in IgM antibodies was detected during the first month of experimental pyelonephritis. A poor IgM antibody response was observed in rabbits with cystitis. During the three months of experimentation, a significant difference in mean IgG levels was observed between rabbits with pyelonephritis and those with cystitis.