Secretion rates of immunoglobulins, albumin, haptoglobin and complement factors C3 and C4 in the perfused jejunum and ileum of human Salmonella carriers.

Secretion rates of immunoglobulins and other proteins were assessed by luminal perfusion of jejunum and distal ileum, and the jejunal histology was evaluated in eight Danish chronic Salmonella typhi and paratyphi carriers compared to nine healthy controls who previously had suffered from typhoid or paratyphoid fever not followed by a carrier state. The median secretion rates for each protein investigated in the distal ileum as well as in the jejunum revealed no significant differences between the two groups. The secretion rate of secretory IgA was raised in both groups compared to previously investigated normal persons. The histological examination revealed no signs of inflammation or presence of bacteria. It was concluded that no primary humoral immune defect was revealed in the carriers.