title: Activation in vitro of some biological systems by extracts of adult worms and microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis.
abstract: Extracts of Dirofilaria immitis adults and microfilariae cause the degranulation of mast cells in rat mesentery when applied in vitro and also cause increased vascular permeability in guinea-pigs and rabbits. Adult worms but not microfilariae are able to activate complement in vitro and both stages contain a plasminogen activator. No proteolytic activity or haemolysins could be detected in either stage. The possibility that these factors may be important in the pathogenesis of dirofilariasis and in the adverse drug reactions that may follow treatment of microfilaraemic animals with diethylcarbamazine is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D003167:Complement Activation; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006461:Hemolysis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000276:immunology; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D014020:Tissue Extracts
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D010960:Plasminogen Activators