Prodn. of vaccine against leptospirosis - starting from specific Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae serotypes

Prodn. of a vaccine against leptospirosis is carried out by culturing a virulent strain of the serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae (serotype copenhageni and/or icterohaemorrhagiae) in a Reiter-Ramme medium contg. NaCl, phosphate buffer, rabbit serum and a small amt. of haeimmoglobin, at ca. 30 degrees C for 4-6 days. The harvested cultures are then inactivated and centrifuged at low temp. (>=10,000 G). The sediment is washed with formolated Sorensen buffer and recentrifuged to remove any remaining proteins. The product is pref. taken up in a physiological soln. to obtain a stock soln. from which doses of the vaccine can be made up. The vaccine is effective against the most prevalent (in France) pathogenic serotypes of the Leptospira spirochaete, and does not cause allergic reactions.