[Effect of a chronic iodine deficit in the ration on the development of the infectious process]

It was revealed that the infectious process in albino rats kept for 4-5 months on an iodine-deficiency diet was characterised by a tendency to dissemination. The seeding efficiency from the parenchymatous organs increased in such animals significantly, whereas the bactericidal properties of the plasma and the phagocytic activity of blood neutrophils decreased; this was apparently associated with depression of the intracellular metabolism reflected in reduction of the cytochromoxidase and peroxidase in the neutrophils.