Scand J Immunol Suppl. 1992;11:53-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1992.tb01619.x.

Anti-Onchocerca volvulus immunoglobulin subclass response in children from Sierra Leone.

Scandinavian journal of immunology. Supplement

A A Gbakima, M S Ibrahim, A L Scott

PMID: 1514051 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1992.tb01619.x

Abstract

The humoral immune responses of a paediatric population of 224 children, 2-15 years of age, residing in an onchocerciasis endemic area of Sierra Leone, were studied to gain information that may be useful in the serodiagnosis of prepatent and low-level infections with Onchocerca volvulus. The antigen-specific levels of IgG and IgG4 were determined and evaluated in the context of the parasitological status of the child. Over 87% of the microfilaria-negative children had significant levels of antigen-specific antibodies against O. volvulus, suggesting that a large percentage of this paediatric population were harbouring prepatent or low-level infections. Over 60% of the children in the group that had detectable numbers of microfilariae in skin snips had elevated levels of O. volvulus-specific IgG4. In contrast, only 23% of the microfilaria-negative children had detectable IgG4 responses. The results presented here indicate that measures of O. volvulus-specific IgG4 may be a useful indicator of the parasitological status of children during the very early stages of onchocerciasis.

Similar articles

Substances

• Antibodies, Helminth
• Immunoglobulin G

MeSH terms

• Adolescent
• Animals
• Antibodies, Helminth / analysis
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G / classification
• Onchocerca / immunology
• Onchocerciasis / immunology
• Sierra Leone

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.