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Published on: August 11, 2018
Cell-mediated immunocompetence among nomadic Turkana children
1Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
Insights
Nutritional and disease stress severely impair cell-mediated immunity in Turkana children, increasing infection susceptibility. High levels of anergy (unresponsiveness) were observed, suggesting a link to elevated morbidity and mortality rates.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cell-mediated immune function is crucial for fighting infections and can be compromised by stress.
- Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) testing is a valuable tool for assessing cellular immunity and predicting health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the cell-mediated immune status of nomadic Turkana children using DTH testing.
- To investigate seasonal variations and demographic factors influencing DTH response in this population.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 64 Turkana children underwent DTH testing using five standardized recall antigens and a control.
- Reactivity was measured by induration size (mm).
- Data were analyzed for variations by antigen, sex, age, and season.
Main Results:
- Tuberculin elicited the strongest DTH response, but 56.2% of children were anergic (nonreactive to all antigens).
- Anergy levels were significantly higher than in U.S. and Peruvian children.
- DTH response showed no significant variation by sex, age, or season.
Conclusions:
- Turkana children exhibit extremely high levels of immunosuppression (anergy).
- This profound immunosuppression is likely a significant factor contributing to the high rates of morbidity and mortality in the population.
- DTH testing is a feasible method for assessing immune status in field settings.
Abstract:
Cell-mediated immune function is readily impaired by nutritional and disease stress, while depressed cellular immunity, in turn, increases an individual's susceptibility to infection. The measurement of cellular immunity through delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) testing can provide important prognostic information, including the prediction of future health and survival, and can easily be performed in nonclinical settings. In a sample of 64 nomadic Turkana children, DTH response was measured seasonally by the simultaneous application of five standardized recall antigens and a glycerin control (Multiest CMI®). Reactivity, measured by mm of induration, varied substantially by antigen, with tuberculin eliciting the strongest response. However, the majority of children (56.2%) were nonreactive to all administered test antigens, indicating a level of anergy significantly higher than that found in U.S. and Peruvian juvenile populations. DTH response did not vary by sex or age of the subject. In addition, immunocompetence did not fluctuate seasonally. These results suggest that the level of immunosuppression found among Turkana children is extremely high, and may be an important determinant of the high rates of morbidity and mortality found in this population. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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