Peripheral blood samples from 52 women, including 16 with herpes genitalis and 36 healthy persons, were studied to enumerate subpopulations of lymphocytes. It was found that the mean percentage of 'active' T lymphocytes was significantly less in the patients with herpes genitalis than in the controls.

With the exception of the EA rosette test using SRBC, all other assay systems using BRBC and HRBC showed a significant dose response in rosette-forming cell count when the sensitizing antibody was further diluted. The percent of rosette-forming cell counts of the EA assay with SRBC, however, was unaffected by dilutions of antiserum even at exceedingly high levels. The present results suggest using red cells, which are nonreactive with T lymphocytes for the assay of B lymphocytes, and the use of antibody for sensitization of red blood cells must be adjusted for the optimal dilution necessary for proper EA rosette formation.

No abstract

Our study was undertaken to determine if the humoral immune status of leprosy patients varied with either the type of the disease or the geographic location of the disease. Another variable investigated was whether or not treatment versus non-treatment had any selected effect on the humoral immune status. Serum immunoglobulin levels were determined by single radial immunodif f usion and other immunoserologic profile testing was performed whenever possible. Immunoglobulin levels did show a difference between the different disease types of leprosy and the authors also feel that environmental and genetic factors may play a more significant role than previously thought.