Transfer of resistance to syphilitic infection from maternal to newborn guinea pigs.

Partial protection against cutaneous syphilis and dissemination of treponemes to the regional lymph nodes was achievable in Treponema pallidum-infected neonatal strain 2 guinea pigs having syphilis-immune mothers. This evidence for enhanced resistance was associated with the natural transfer of antitreponemal, maternally derived immunoglobulins before parturition.