Passive immunity
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A state of passive immunity is established of immunity from immunized to non-immune host by administration of serum antibodies, or transplantation of lymphocytes [1]. The state is normally short-lived, and is part of therapy for active disease.
The most common reason for inducing passive immunity is to counteract the effects of a circulating biological toxin, which may be of bacterial origin, or from a higher-level organism, such as a venomous snake. Antitoxin is a routine part of treatment for botulism and tetanus.
- ↑ National Library of Medicine, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)