[Salivary antibodies of Sonnei dysentery reconvalescents and healthy subjects with different probable risks of infection by Shigellae].

The presence of homologous IgA and IgG was revealed in the saliva of convalescent patients with Sh. sonnei dysentery, examined 29 days to 4.5 months from the onset of the disease. The level and occurrence of IgA and IgG in the convalescent patients were several times greater than in healthy persons never subjected to the risk of Shigella infection. The records indicate that during the outbreaks of Sh. sonnei dysentery in children's institutions a considerable accumulation of homologous IgA and IgG occurred in the saliva of the members of the personnel unaffected by the infection (in comparison with healthy persons who had not been subjected to the risk of infection). The maximum immunological shift in the personnel was found to occur in the foci where the infection was transmitted by the alimentary route. The investigation of saliva samples for the presence of antibodies to Sh. sonnei may thus contribute to the epidemiological analysis in dysentery.