Influence of levamisole on lymphocytes and M. leprae in mice

Normal uninfected (N) and M. leprae infected mice (NI) were given levamisole in the dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight. The animals were observed over a period of nine months for bacillary load, T and B cell counts and blast transformation with PHA. Significant increase in B cell counts was observed in the levamisole treated normal (NL) compared to normal control (N) group. T cell counts and blast transformation, however, remained unaffected. However, T-cell counts and blast transformation improved significantly in the infected and levamisole treated (NIL) as compared to the infected group (NI) not given levamisole. Bacillary loads remained unaltered in both, the infected (NI) and levamisole treated (NIL) group.