title: Field evaluation of IgG4 serology for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis in children.
abstract: IgG4 serology was evaluated for early diagnosis of onchocerciasis in children living within an endemic focus of forest-type onchocerciasis in Nigeria. IgG4 serology proved to be more sensitive than conventional skin snip examination being able to detect 42% of infected children as opposed to 24% by snip examination. Furthermore, age was not a limitation to the technique within the 8-12 y spectrum. We conclude that IgG4 serology in children is a reliable indicator of community microfilarial rate and ongoing transmission of onchocerciasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ogunrinade
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Kale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandrashekar
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Weil
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G