No abstract

SUmmARY Jejunal biopsies from 20 well nourished children (average age 12.8 months) with gastroenteritis, and 20 children (average age 20 months) with protein-energy malnutrition were examined by immunofluorescent technique for immunoglobulins A, G, M, E, and D, and for epithelial glycoprotein secretory component. Compared with previous studies on normal infants, the children with gastroenteritis showed a moderate increase in IgA-containing cells, a large increase in IgMcontaining cells, and no change in IgG-containing cells. These findings are similar to previously recorded findings on adults with gastroenteritis. In contrast there was a pronounced and highly significant decrease in IgA-containing cells in the jejunal mucosa of the children with protein-energy malnutrition. No significant differences were noted between the populations of IgG-, IgM-, IgE-, and IgD-containing cells in the two groups. It is suggested that this selective deficiency in mucosal IgA results from a delay in maturation of the secretory IgA system, and the mechanisms of such a deficiency are discussed.

No abstract

SummaryEpidemiological data on 448 cases of human cutaneous anthrax from the Gambia showed that this particular strain of anthrax bacillus causes widespread morbidity and some mortality with, at the same time, subclinical infection. Analysis also showed that anthrax is not an occupationally related disease in the Gambia.

BCG vaccine given to young Gambian children produced a conversion rate, measured by delayed hypersensitivity to PPD-S, which increased with improving nutritional status. Retesting when nutrition had improved showed a considerable loss of delayed hypersensitivity in all nutritional groups. This may be the result of enhanced macrophage microbicidal acitvity at the time the BCG was administered. BCG is not likely to be very effective if given to malnourished children or to those who are undergoing repeated antigenic stimulation.