In utero exposure to Onchocerca volvulus: relationship to subsequent infection intensity and cellular immune responsiveness.
Afro-Ecuadorian individuals from an area where Onchocerca volvulus is hyperendemic have been monitored for infection over the past 16 years. To determine whether in utero exposure to O. volvulus biases a child's subsequent immune responses, children (9 to 16 years old) for whom the mother's infection status was known were chosen for study. Children of infected mothers (n = 19) had significantly higher levels of skin microfilariae than children of uninfected mothers (n = 13; P = 0.021). While the serum levels of O. volvulus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG subclasses, and IgE showed no significant differences between the two groups of children, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children of infected mothers produced higher levels of Th2-type cytokines to several parasite antigens and lower levels of Th1-type cytokines to nonparasite antigens than those of children of uninfected mothers. Thus, in utero exposure to O. volvulus has a long-term effect on the child's subsequent cellular immune response that may render the child more susceptible to O. volvulus infection postnatally.
Elson
L H
LH
Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Days
A
A
Calvopiña
M
M
Paredes
W
W
Araujo
E
E
Guderian
R H
RH
Bradley
J E
JE
Nutman
T B
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth