[Humoral and cellular immunity in children vaccinated with oral B.C.G. (author's transl)].

The humoral and cellular immunity of 23 children with ages between 1 and 5 years, nonreactors to 10 mu of PPD, were investigated after oral vaccination with one dose of 100 mg of fresh oral BCG, Rio de Janeiro strain (Moreau strain). The tests performed shortly before and 70 days after vaccination showed that the schedule used was neither sufficient to stimulate the production of antibody anti-PPD, nor to change the levels of serum immunoglobulins and T, T-active and B blood lymphocytes. However, about 60% of the children became responsive to 10 mu of PPD after treatment and all gave positive reactions to PPD on "in vitro" assays of leukocyte migration inhibition. New schedules for oral vaccination with fresh BCG are in progress in our laboratory.