EVALUATION OF LOCAL TOXICITY AFTER REPEATED INTRANASAL VACCINATION OFGUINEA-PIGS

In intranasal vaccination it is important that the adjuvant does not h ave any toxic effect on the sensitive nasal mucosa. In this study a hi stological and clinical evaluation of the effects of two different adj uvants in a vaccine containing detoxified diphtheria (DT) and tetanus toroid (TT) in guinea pigs was done. The guinea pigs were divided in f our groups and treated daily for 14 days with different formulations. Group 1 with saline, Groups 2 and 3 with the vaccines in a non-ionic s urfactant formulation containing glycerides and Group 4 with tetraethy leneglycol formulation containing glycofurol. The guinea pigs in Group s 1,2 and 4 were sacrificed on day 15 and Group 3, 1 week later and th e tissues processed for histological examination. The animals remained healthy during the treatment and minor clinical signs, such as nose-b lowing decreased with time. The histological appearance, including the development of lymphoid tissue, was comparable in all groups. A speci fic toxic effect on the nasal mucosa by the different vaccine and adju vant formulations was not observed.