The advantage of a build-up anti-globulin technique for the detection of immunoglobulin on the red cells of rabbits infected with trypanosomes. A preliminary report.

A build-up anti-globulin technique has been used to detect immunoglobulin on the red cells of rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei S 42 and 427. The method, which is useful for the detection of immunoglobulin on sparsely coated red cells, involves treating the red cells of infected rabbits with antiglobulin followed by alternate globulin and antiglobulin layers until a lattice is built up which allows agglutination to occur. The red cells of five infected rabbits have been tested with anti-rabbit IgG,-IgM and broad spectrum anti-globulin reagents at intervals after infection and following the administration of Berenil, a drug which destroys trypanosomes. The positive anti-globulin reactions which developed following inoculation with trypanosomes were much reduced after giving Berenil. The tests became more strongly positive again in two rabbits after reinfection.