[Specific immune response and immunoglobulin production in intestinal infections. III. Intestinal antibodies and immunoglobulins in the dynamics of dysentery infection].

Coproimmunoglobulins and specific coproantibodies were studied in 98 adult patients and 32 children in the course of infection caused by Sh. sonnei, and in 102 healthy individuals of various age. The concentrations of IgA, and, to a lesser extent, of the IgG and IgM proved to be significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy persons. Locally synthesized secretory IgA made up the main part of the total amount of the IgA in feces. The titres of specific coproantibodies were significantly higher in patients than in healthy persons; these antibodies, as identified by Coombs test with monospecific antiglobulin sera, mainly belonged to the secretory IgA. The local immune response to Sh. sonnei was more intensive in adults than in children. In adults the increase in the secretory IgA was revealed at the earlier stages of the disease, and specific antibodies were found more frequently and in higher titres than in children. The lesser intensity of local immune response in children apparently depends on a lesser maturity of the IgA system providing the local defence.