Chronic dermatophyte infections II. Antibody and cell-mediated immune responses.

In patients infected with Trichophyton rubrum, the T lymphocyte responses (lymphocyte transformation) to trichophytin were reduced, compared with control subjects. The same levels were seen in patients with intractable chronic infection and those who responded well to treatment but the site of infection affected the immune response, lower levels being seen in patients with palmo-plantar infection than in those with groin infections. In infections coursed by T. mentagrophytes by contrast, lymphocyte responses to specific antigens were significantly increased.