SPECIFIC DIGESTIVE DEFICIENCY OF PHAGOCYTES IN PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS- ITS ABSENCE IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD NEUTROPHILS OF MEMBERS OF THE NUCLEAR FAMILY OF PATIENTS - AN INITIAL REPORT

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PARA) affects only a minority of individuals, who have presumably been exposed to the causative fungus (Paracoccidio ides brasiliensis). Neutrophils (PMNs) from patients with PARA show a significant and specific digestive deficiency phagocytosed P. brasilie nsis in vitro. It is not known whether the defect is acquired after co ntact with the fungus, or precedes it. We studied the spouses and offs pring of three patients with PARA. Individuals studied staved in the s ame house as their husband or father. None of the relatives had eviden ce of PARA, and their PMNs showed no defect in their ability to digest or kill the fungus. Relatives showed no indication of sensitization a gainst P. brasiliensis. These results are compatible with the view tha t effective contact with P. brasiliensis may occur only under restrict ed conditions and that the defect in digestive ability is an infrequen t and specific occurrence.