Effects of heavy metals imission on the cellular immunity of guinea pigs with experimental ascariosis.

A study was performed on the short-term effects of industrial heavy metals imission (Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn), collected at 5 km from a mercury-producing plant, on T- and B-lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages of guinea pigs with experimental ascariosis (Ascaris suum). Administration of the imission for 5 days showed a significant decrease in T- and B-cell population and in macrophage phagocytic ability during the migration phase of Ascaris suum when compared with an infected but untreated group of animals. This was also manifested by an eight-fold increase in the density of migrating ascaris larvae in the lungs. Macrophage metabolic activity in animals given imission was significantly suppressed only until Day 7 post-infection. The most striking decrease in the immunological responses was observed in guinea pigs that were given imission but were not infected.