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The Persistence of Acquired Immunity to the Filarial Worm of the Cotton Rat¹

These experiments show that the retarding effect on growth and development of secondary infections of Litomosoides carinii in cotton rats, produced by a pre-existing primary infection, persists for 1 or 2 years after the introduction of the primary infection. It also persists for a considerable time after the death of the primary infecting worms. It is possible that this immunity, established at the time of introduction of the primary infection, persists for these long periods without reinforcement. On the other hand it seems possible, even in face of some evidence to the contrary, that the adult worms and, later, the deposits of dead worm tissue, may continue to exert an antigenic effect. Postmunition is suggested as a term which might be appropriate in a situation such as this.

¹ Supported in part by Research Grant E 64 from the National Institutes of Health, U. S. Public Health Service.