Fluorescent Antibodies in the Fluid of the Conjunctival Sac of Trachoma Patients

Abstract

THE indirect fluorescent antibody technique was used to investigate the possible presence of antibodies in the lacrimal fluid or, to be more exact, the fluid of the conjunctival sac of 21 patients with active trachoma (Stage II–III), nearly all of them children, 9–14 years old. In most instances, the small quantity of fluid normally present in the conjunctival sac, or produced by slight mechanical irritation rather than freely flowing tears, was examined. The fluids, obtained with the aid of sterile pipettes used for white blood-cell count, were diluted 1 : 10 in phosphate buffered saline pH 7.4. Trachoma elementary body antigens were prepared and examinations were carried out by techniques previously described^1–3. Commercial fluorescein isothiocyanate labelled anti-human γ-globulin (Microbiological Associates, Bethesda) and rhodamine were used for the purpose of staining. Fluorescence with trachoma antigen was observed with the conjunctival fluids of ten from the twenty-one cases of trachoma. The conjunctival fluids from twenty-two trachoma-free children gave negative results.