Immunological status of mycetoma patients

Mycetoma patients were investigated for cell-mediate immunity by means of the tuberculin test, DNCB sensitization and lymphocyte transformation induced by phytohaemagglutinin. Levels of immunoglobulins, IgG, IgM and IgA were also determined. Results seem to point towards deficiency in cell-mediated immunity at least partial if not whole. There was a definite rise in the IgM and IgA class of immunoglobulins and a decrease in IgG. These antibodies are of diagnostic value in the precipitin and complement fixation tests but have no protective value.