[Possible decrease of nonspecific immunity in wounds contaminated by copper ore minerals]

Continuing the research--started in 1973--on the influence of wounds contamination by copper ore minerals upon the living organism the authors conducted experiments on 30 animals. The experiments covered: phagocytic and metabolic activity of peripheral blood phagocytes, oxidoreductase activity of granulocytes, lysosyme level in sera of the examined animals and total hemolytic activity of the complement. The experiments demonstrated--since the 20th day after their start--a considerable decrease in phagocytic and metabolic activity of peripheral blood granulocytes in the animals with wounds contaminated by copper ore minerals. Those disturbances may decrease nonspecific cellular immunity of the organism, which entails organism's susceptibility to infections.