The tuberculin reaction associated with tuberculous infection.

Abstract

by Edwards, Palmer, and associates. It was found that it was impossible to separate the specific reaction from the cross reaction by a single test because of overlapping of the antigenic properties of the mammalian tubercle bacilli and the other mycobacteria. However, it is often possible to distinguish them by multiple skin tests using PPD antigens derived from various strain~ of mycobacteria under study. This is by virtue of the fact that the homologous antigen usually produces a larger reaction than the heterologous antigen (1, 3). For example, guinea pigs infected with the Battey organism would react strongly to the Battey PPD antigen. They may also react to the standard tuberculin, but the reaction is usually of lesser degree. This article is a report of a study of the cutaneous reaction to multiple PPD antigens in tuberculous and nontuberculous subjects, and the writers seek to identify the features which would distinguish a tuberculous infection from other mycobacterial infections.