IgG antibodies against antigens of various mycobacterial species in children and in pre- and post-BCG young adults.
Daniel Herbert; Paramasivan, C.N.; Manjula Datta; Vallishayee, R.S.; Prabhakar, R.
Indian Journal of Tuberculosis; 1995; 42; 15-21.
IgG antibodies against antigens of various mycobacteria were estimated by ELISA in serum samples collected (a) from 36 children (mean age 4.4 years) belonging to Koppur villages in the South Indian BCG trial area, (b) before and after BCG vaccination of 13 young individuals (mean age 16.5 years) belonging to Trivellore in the same area and (c) before and after BCG vaccination from 20 young British subjects (mean age 14.5 years). In the Koppur children, the antibody levels were highest against M. scrofulaceum and M. avium and lowest against M. bovis and M. tuberculosis H 37 Rv. In these children, there was no correlation between antibody levels and tuberculin reactivity. In the Trivellore subjects, antibody levels were highest against M. bovis BCG and M.gordonae , and lowest against PPD RT22 and M. terrae and none of the differences in the antibody levels against individual antigens between the pre- and post-BCG serum samples was statistically significant (p>0.05). The British subjects had the highest levels against M. tuberculosis 7219 while the lowest levels were against M. kansasii and M. tuberculosis 51; after BCG vaccination the antibody levels were selectively increased against M. tuberculosis 7219, M. flavesceus and M. gordonae (p < 0.05).
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