title: Immunity to pathogenic free-living amoebae: role of humoral antibody.
abstract: Pathogenic free-living amoebae are common in nature, but few clinical infections by these amoebae have been reported. This has prompted studies of host susceptibility factors in humans. A survey of normal human sera from three New Zealand Health Districts was made; antibodies to pathogenic free-living amoebae were found in all sera, with titers ranging from 1:5 to 1:20 for Naegleria spp. and from 1:20 to 1:80 for Acanthamoeba spp. The antibodies belonged mainly to immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M classes. The presence of a specific neutralizing factor against Acanthamoeba spp. but not Naegleria spp. was demonstrated. Possible protective mechanisms are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000562:Amebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M