title: Immunoepidemiology of human necatoriasis: correlations between antibody responses and parasite burdens.
abstract: In this paper we describe the relationship between antibodies to Necator americanus stage-specific antigens and parasite burden in an endemically-infected population in Papua New Guinea. Using an age-structured analysis, we show that the correlation coefficient between levels of IgG against adult worm excretory-secretory (ES) antigen and parasite burden declined significantly with host age from positive in younger hosts to significantly negative in older hosts. A trend towards similar patterns was present for anti-larval IgG both pretreatment and after reinfection, and for anti-ES IgM and anti-ES IgE pretreatment. These patterns are consistent with a role for these isotypes in a protective immune response, although parasite-induced immunosuppression may provide an alternate explanation. This is another demonstration of possibly protective responses to N. americanus infection.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017221:Necator americanus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D009332:Necatoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes