Decreased cellular and humoral anti-infective factors in the breast secretions of lactating mothers with lepromatous leprosy

Abstract

Breast secretions from 28 healthy lactating women and 12 lepromatous mothers feeding their children for a varying period (2 days - 2 1/2 years) were studied for the total and differential cell counts and immunoglobulin concentrations. It was observed that the total leucocyte count in the milk of the lepromatous mothers was low and also the macrophage count was significantly decreased. The mean secretory immuno-globulin-A level was significantly decreased in the colostrum as well as in the mature milk of the lepromatous mothers as compared to those from the healthy mothers. Acid-fast bacilli could be detected in 9 of the 12 leprosy patients' breast secretions by employing a new technique of coprecipitation of bacteria by 4% polyethylene glycol. The immunologic implications of these findings have been discussed.