VARIABLE EFFECT ON PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LEUKOCYTES DURING JE VIRUS-INFECTION OF MAN

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 38  (3) , 492-498
Abstract
The peripheral blood luekocytes of 24 cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) were studied and the findings were compared with those in 25 normal healthy controls of matching age and sex. In the early phases of the disease, marked neutrophil leukocytosis was seen which returned to almost normal levels by the 4th wk. Lymphopenia was associated with diminished T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes, but the number of B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes remained within the normal range. The number of T lymphocytes was reduced, but their function of leukocyte migration inhibition in the presence of JE virus antigen was significantly higher. The phagocytic activity of the neutrophils as shown by the uptake of neutral red dye was diminished, but the phagocytic activity of monocytes as shown by the uptake of neutral red dye or ingestion of latex particles remained unaffected. HI [hemagglutination inhibiting] antibodies against JE virus were significantly higher in cases of encephalitis than in the control group. JE virus infection in man has a variable effect on different components of the peripheral blood leukocytes.