Cell mediated immune response in human cases of rhinosporidiosis.

Leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) and T lymphocyte counts were used as measures of cell mediated immunity in 37 patients with rhinosporidiosis and 18 healthy individuals. LMI was higher in all the patients than the normal controls, and it was maximal in patients with infection of 3-9 years' duration. When the chronicity of infection exceeded 10 years, there was a fall in LMI response although it was still more than that of the normal controls. The T cell count was significantly low with infection of 1-2 years' duration than in normals, but it rose to normal values in patients with infection that had lasted 3 years or more.