title: Colonic immunity in patients and amoebic liver abscess.
abstract: Secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA), coproantibody titre (antiamoebic) and IgA, IgG, IgM immunocytes in rectal mucosa were studied in 13 patients with amoebic liver abscess (ALA) prior to and 4-6 weeks after completion of antiamoebic therapy. Ten asymptomatic Entamoeba histolytica cyst passers and 17 healthy age and sex matched volunteers served as controls. Fecal S-IgA levels and counts of IgA bearing immunocytes in mucosa were significantly higher in patients with ALA and cyst passers as compared to healthy controls and showed a significant fall after treatment. Fecal antiamoebic antibodies were high in cyst passers and in cases of ALA after treatment. Raised levels of S-IgA and IgA class immunocyte counts probably indicate a local mucosal immune response directed at containing the infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Somani
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Kulpati
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Baveja
mesh_terms: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012007:Rectum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M