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Experiments discussed in this paper aimed at obtaining, using Cercopithecus aethiops monkeys information on immunogenic activity of measles virus as well as kinetic and persistence of immunological reaction at active and inactivated virus.

The parameters of migration inhibition test of leucocytes isolated both from the peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes of monkeys Cercopithecus aethiops were determined. Concentration of measles virus that does not produce nonspecific migration inhibition of leucocyte obtained from sero-negative animals was also defined.

The migration inhibition test of leucocytes isolated both from the peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes as well as peritoneal exudate cells of guinea pigs, immunized with the various doses of measles virus was determined. For in vitro testing of cellular immunity to measles virus, viral antigens could be used in both infective and inactivated form.

Evaluation of immunological reactions after vaccination with attenuated measles virus wasbased on determination of the level of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and neutralizing (N) antibodies, their location in basic groups of immunoglobulins, and the degree of blastic transformation induced by phaseolin. The picture of lymphocyte chromosomes of the peripheral blood was also investigated. HI and N antibodies were detected not earlier than on the 14th day after vaccination, reaching a peak on the 30th day. Sera were fractioned on Sephadex G-200 gel or centrifuged in sucrose-density gradient. On the 14th day activity of antibodies was located mainly in IgM fractions, and in a later period mainly in IgG and partly in IgA and IgM. Decrease in blastic transformation was found on the 7th day after vaccination, when HI and N antibodies were not detectable. Further decrease in transformation was observed on the 14th day after vaccination. Mitotic indexes increase significantly only on the 30th day after vaccination. For the whole period of observation there were no changes in the number and structure of chromosomes.

Monkeys and guinea pigs were immunized with various doses of measles and mumps viruses. A cell-mediated response measured by leukocyte migration inhibition occured during the first two weeks after immunization. In case of measles virus, marked migration inhibition occurred already on the 7th day in monkeys and guinea pigs immunized with high virus doses. The response declined as early as 14 days after immunization in contrast to the group of guinea pigs inoculated with a lower virus dose. In these animals the response sustained for up to 50 days. Immunization of animals with various doses of mumps virus was similar and positive responses were obtained in the absence of detectable antibodies. Even 2.5 TCID50 of mumps virus induced the response although more irregularly than 250 or 2500 TCID50 virus.

Two-way analysis of variance with replications was used for comparing the size of leucocyte migration areas in the samples of blood of monkeys before and after immunization of animals with measles virus. The areas in control samples were compared with those with antigen. Size of migration areas differed significantly between control samples and those with antigen only after the immunization of animals. Interaction between individual monkeys and presence or absence of antigen was significant only 28 days after the immunization of animals.