Is the BCG Vaccine Safe for Undernourished Individuals?

Table 2

Number of colonized BALB/c mice after BCG immunization. (A) Percentage of colonization in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, lungs and thymus of normal immunized mice. (B) Percentage of colonization in different organs of animals immunized with BCG after 10 days of dietary restriction. (C) Percentage of colonization in different organs of household contacts (nonimmunized undernourished mice housed in conventional open cages allocated in the same room of immunized animals).

	Groups	Lymph nodes	%	Spleen	%	Liver	%	Lung	%	Thymus	%
A	Normal + BCG	7/13	54	2/6	33	1/12	8	0/7	0	0/12	0
B	Restricted + BCG	10/11	91	4/5	80	5/12	42	3/6	50	9/11	82
C	Undernourished household contacts	2/4	50	1/4	25	1/4	25	NS	NS	0/4	0

NS = not shown.