EN
The purpose of the work was to trace cross immunological reactions in calves immunized with inactivated vaccines against ringworm of cattle and infected with different species of dermatophytes artificially after 6 weeks since the first injection of the vaccines. The strains of Trichophyton verrucosum 43 (Tv 43), T. verrucosum 53, T. mentagrophytes (Tm) 1 and Tm 37, and Tm var. granulosum (Tg) 58 were used to prepare the vaccines. The inactivated vaccines made acc. to the method described previously (18) were given twice intramuscularly. DHT was performed using filtrates of Tv 43 and Tm 1 cultivated in Sabouraud’s liquid media. The allergens were given intracutaneously at a dose of 0.4 ml; the findings were read after 24 hours. The differences in the skin fold thickness over 3.0 mm were regarded as positive results. Challenge was performed using the same volume of standarized suspensions of TvZ (virulent strain), Tm 1 and Tg 58 containing an increasing number of the fungi. Each animals was inoculated simultaneously with two different strains employing 4 various doses of the same fungus on one side of the animal. Humidity of premises was measured with an aspirate psychrometer. The examinations were done in Spring-Summer and in Autumn-Winter periods. It was found that: 1 — In calves immunized with the vaccine made of Tv 43 and to some extent Tv 53, depending on climatic conditions, there occurred a complete or very marked immunity against the virulent strain TvZ; 2 — Partially resistance was observed also in case of infection with a heterologous strain, i.e. Tg 58. 3 — Inactivated vaccines of Tm 1 and Tm 37 had no immunogenic properties. 4 — In all calves immunized with the monovalent vaccines there was found a delay type of hypersensitivity. The ability of a strain to induce hypersensitivity was not associated with its immunogenicity; that may indicate that there is no direct affinity betwen immunity and the state of allergy.