title: Immunity and morbidity in human schistosomiasis mansoni.
abstract: This paper reviews the results of a longitudinal, multidisciplinary study on schistosomiasis mansoni that has been in progress in Machakos District, Kenya, since 1980. Different methods of delivering chemotherapy have been compared in a medium scale operational control programme. It is concluded that treatment only of infected children is an effective and feasible means of control, the frequency of treatment depending on the severity of disease. Within the framework of this programme, detailed studies have been undertaken of immunity to reinfection after treatment and of the reasons for differences in observed morbidity between different areas. An apparent resistance to reinfection, especially in older individuals, may be attributable to the protective effect of IgE antibodies against adult worm antigens. Various factors other than intensity of infection may contribute to severe morbidity, including parasite strain differences, interactions with other infections, nutritional status, and abnormalities in the regulation of pathogenic immune responses to egg antigens.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Butterworth
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Curry
authors: D W
authors: DW
authors: Dunne
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Fulford
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Kimani
authors: H C
authors: HC
authors: Kariuki
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Klumpp
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Koech
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mbugua
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Ouma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007073:Immunoglobulin E