A study of cellular and humoral immunity in three species of armadillos. Part I.

In the present study the membrane receptors of immunocompetent cells and immunoglobulins in three varieties of armadillos were explored for determining, in later studies, the possible differences in inoculated animals developing leprosy. The studies of cellular immunity were performed in five Chaetophroctus villosus (Ch.v), one Dasypus hibridus septecinctus (DHS) and one Zaedus Pichei (ZP), while the humoral immunity was studied with a serum pool of 17 Ch.v and 6 DHS. The results obtained demonstrate that the lymphocytes of the three species studied have receptors for SRBC, C3 and Ig-s, and no receptors for Fc segment of immunoglobulins. With reference to immunoglobulins no definite alteration of the humoral immunity was observed with the exception that DHS presents increased IgG levels and Ch.v increased IgM.