title: Bancroftian filariasis in Haiti: preliminary characterization of the immunological responsiveness of microfilaremic individuals.
abstract: Patent infections with the lymphatic filariae, Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, are associated with suppressed in vitro cellular responsiveness to filarial antigens. In studies of bancroftian filariasis in Haiti, a significant number of microfilaremic individuals can be characterized as "responders" to filarial antigens. Cells from 37/74 untreated microfilaremic subjects responded to B. pahangi antigen (stimulation ratio greater than 2) as detected by in vitro blastogenesis. A comparison of responders to nonresponders revealed a significant difference in mean B. pahangi reactivity (15,822 vs. 4,538 cpm, P less than 0.001), but no significant differences with respect to age, microfilaremia, PPD or PHA reactivity, or B. pahangi-specific antibody levels. Subtle differences may exist between these groups with respect to recognition of specific antigens on Western blots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lammie
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Leiva
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lowrie
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D002009:Brugia / Q000276:immunology*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000276:immunology*; D005368:Filariasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000276:immunology; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth