Og4C3 circulating antigen: a marker of infection and adult worm burden in Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis.
Og4C3 circulating filarial antigen was detected in the sera of 94.5% (259/274) of microfilaremic patients, 32% (239/751) of persons with presumption of filariasis, and 23% (11/48) of chronic filariasis patients. The antigen level was correlated with the microfilariae (Mf) density and patient age (P < .01). It remained stable in patients treated with microfilaricidal drugs. Og4C3 antigen, undetectable in Mf culture media, was demonstrated to be a rare somatic Mf antigen. It appears to be an excreted or secreted antigen from adult filaria. It could be used as a marker of infection and an indicator of adult worm burden.
Institut Territorial de Recherches Médicales Louis Malardé, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
S
S
Chanteau
J P
JP
Moulia-Pelat
P
P
Glaziou
N L
NL
Nguyen
P
P
Luquiaud
C
C
Plichart
P M
PM
Martin
J L
JL
Cartel
D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015415:Biomarkers