title: Vaccinia virus persistence in a child against the background of immune deficiency.
abstract: A young girl, vaccinated against smallpox 6 years before suffered from a persistent vaccinia virus infection and a congenital skin disease, i.e. epidermolysis bullosa. The virus was isolated from skin lesions at the vaccination site and remote sites and repeatedly from the blood; it was not isolated from bone-marrow specimen, saliva, pharynx or urine. The titre of virus-neutralizing antibodies was low (1:10), immunoglobulins A, M and G were within age-related limits; antibodies against measles and tetanus were at protective levels, skin tests were positive. Staphylococcal antitoxin titre was extremely high. The child's mother, not vaccinated against smallpox, possessed vaccinia--virus-neutralizing antibodies at high titre (over 1:320). Examination of the child did not show any quantitative immune deficiency. Immune deviations were found in the lymphocyte blast-transformation reaction on stimulation with PHA and specific antigen, as well as in the nonspecific-suppression test. The possible genesis of the virus persistence and the role of the virus in the clinical course of the disease are discussed.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004820:Epidermolysis Bullosa / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000209:etiology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D012900:Smallpox Vaccine