[Diagnosis of human active or latent human brucellosis by lymphocyte transformation. Inhibition of leukocyte migration and passive hemagglutination. Possible interference between brucellosis and some mental disorders].

Passive hemagglutination tests (H.T.), involving the coating of a soluble B. abortus antigen onto sheep red blood cells through chromium chloride, were always negative in non-brucellic subjects. Positive H.T., even at low titers (1:50), were associated with positive specific lymphoblastic (T.T.L.) and inhibition of leucocyte migration (I.M.L.) tests in 13 patients. These 3 tests were negative in 17 control brucellosis-free individuals. Positive H.T. confirmed a clinical diagnosis of brucellosis in 27 patients with dubious or negative responses to classical tests. Low positive (1:50, 1:100) H.T. may correspond to Brucella primary-infection or to a quiescent chronic infection, and higher titers to clinically active brucellosis. There is a correlation between cellular immunity tests (T.T.L., I.M.L.) and passive hemagglutination test. Furthermore, 39/88 women hospitalized in psychiatric wards were positive to H.T., and 6 of them were also highly positive to complement fixation and tube agglutination tests. Three T.T.L. and I.M.L., performed on samples from 3 H.T. (1:50) positive patients, were positive. These 30 patients were classified as depression or severe anorexia.