Effects of concurrently administered copper and mercury on phagocytic cell activity and antibody levels in guinea pigs with experimental ascariasis.

The subchronic effect of copper and mercury on selected immunological parameters in guinea pigs with experimental ascariasis was studied. Cupric sulphate and mercuric chloride administered for 28 days did not suppress the levels of specific circulating antibody in a subsequent Ascaris suum infection. Intoxication of animals significantly inhibited the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages throughout the experiment. Ascaris suum infection elevated macrophage phagocytic activity but values remained significantly lower in comparison with infected non-intoxicated animals. Both the concurrently administered metal compounds changed the phagocytic ability of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the blood. The intensity of infection assessed by the number of Ascaris larvae migrating in the lungs of animals currently intoxicated with both the metal compounds increased by 28.6%, compared with controls.