[Evaluation of immune response in experimental sporotrichosis using T and B lymphocyte count]. / Evaluación de la respuesta inmune en la esporotricosis experimental por el cuanteo de linfocitos T y B.

The effector cells of the immune response are involved in the clinical course of bacterial, viral and mycotic infections. Previous publications have reported that some mycotic infections, including sporotrichosis, can produce a negative modulation of the immune response unfavorable for the host. In this work T and B lymphocytes capable to form direct and indirect rosettes respectively with sheep erythrocytes in gerbils with experimental sporotrichosis, were measured. It was found a significant rise in the number to T and B lymphocytes which means normal immunological reactivity. These results are not in accordance with the idea that sporotrichosis can depress the immune response of the host.

[Leukocyte phagocytic activity in gerbils with experimental sporotrichosis treated with potassium iodide]. / Estudio de la actividad fagocítica de los leucocitos de gerbiles con esporotricosis experimental tratados con ioduro de potasio.

One effective treatment against sporotrichosis is the oral administration of potassium iodide (KI). It is not known how it works, and also it is not known if this substance has some effect on the microbicidal activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and macrophages. In this work the phagocytic activity of gerbils treated with KI was studied. Gerbils cured within 62 days of treatment with KI, their PMN and macrophages showed an increased ability for reducing nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT); myeloperoxidase activity was decreased in PMN. These results were the expected in any chronic infection and demonstrates that KI effectiveness on the experimental sporotrichosis works by an independent mechanism of phagocytosis.