Phytohaemagglutinin reactivity in circulating peripheral blood lymphocytes during a Trypanosoma brucei infection: sequential studies in individual guinea-pigs

This study has analysed the response to phytohaemagglutinin of peripheral blood lymphocytes from guinea-pigs infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. By this means it was possible to follow the response of individual animals throughout an infection. A culture method using whole blood permitted fewer cell manipulations and eliminated the necessity to supplement cultures with heterologous serum. Selection of appropriate strains of T.b. brucei produced a relatively chronic infection in guinea-pigs. Results from this system indicate that, even late in the disease, significant mitogen reactivity still remains in some individuals. More significantly, these mitogen 'responders' controlled successive parasitaemic waves producing a fluctuating parasitaemia whereas the animals showing poor mitogen responsiveness--'non-responders' failed to control successive waves and showed plateau parasitaemias.