Protein deficiency increases the susceptibility of the host to infection. Depressed phagocytic function, fall in non-specific protective substances of the serum, and poor immune response have all been recorded in the literature. The malnourished population exhibit recurrent ocular infections. The role of local defence mechanisms, principally lysozyme, is not known hitherto. In the present report, protein-deprived weaning Wistar rats showed a significant reduction in lysozyme tested against Staphylococcus afermentas.