Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to Onchocerca volvulus antigens in exposed and non-exposed African individuals.
Although considered of critical importance, the mode of helper T-lymphocyte function in Onchocerca volvulus infection is still unclear including the role of the Th1/Th2 dichotomy. We studied the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, which is the classical Th1 response, to O. volvulus antigens in Africans exposed and not exposed to the infection. DTH reactions were found in a small percentage of patients with generalized onchocerciasis, but in a high percentage of patients with localized onchocerciasis, in putatively immune subjects, and also in non-exposed individuals, which may be due to cross-reactivity with other nematodes. These findings support the notions of (i) prenatal influence of maternal O. volvulus infection preventing development of Th1 responses and/or (ii) suppression of Th1 responses by the infection itself.
Burchard
G D
GD
Tropical Medicine Section, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany. burchard@bni.uni-hamburg.de
Brattig
N W
NW
Kruppa
T F
TF
Horstmann
R D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016701:Guinea; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000276:immunology*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000947:Antigens, Helminth