Studies of arthritis and other lesions induced in rats by injection of mycobacterial adjuvant. IV. examination of tissues and fluids for infectious agents

Adjuvant induced arthritis is believed to be due to an immunological process associated with the development of delayed hypersensitivity to a component of the injected mycobacterial adjuvant. However, since pleuropneumonia‐like organisms (PPLO) may cause arthritis in rats, it was necessary to determine whether such microorganisms play any role in adjuvant disease. This article reports attempts to cultivate bacteria and PPLO from affected tissues and to transfer disease to normal recipients. No evidence for an infectious agent was obtained.