Effect of oral exposure of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare on the protective immunity induced by BCG.

Sujatha Narayanan; Paramasivan, C.N.; Prabhakar, R.; Narayanan, P.R.

Journal of Bioscience; 1986; 10; 453-460.

The relative protective efficacy of oral administration of mycobacreria as compared to the conventional intradermal route of vaccination has been assessed in guinea pigs. Skin test reactivity to partially purified protein derivative and protective immunity to challenge with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis were used as parameters of protective immunity.

Oral immunisation of guinea pigs either with BCG or with Mycobacterium avium intracellulare induces skin test reactivity and protective immunity comparable to that induced by intradermal route of vaccination. Oral exposure of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare prior to oral or intradermal dose of BCG did not interfere with the protective immunity induced by BCG in guinea pigs challenged with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H 37 Rv.

Keywords: Protective immunity; BCG; oral immunization, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H 37 Rv; Mycobacterium avium intracellulare.

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