title: Antibody response in children infected with Giardia intestinalis before and after treatment with Secnidazole.
abstract: We examined 364 school children for intestinal parasites in a sub-urban zone of Caracas, Venezuela. Giardia intestinalis was the most prevalent parasite in stool samples from 34 children. Levels of IgA and IgG antibodies to G. intestinalis were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot before and after treatment with secnidazole. All patients were cured with a reduction of IgA antibody levels in 26 of 34 children and a reduction in IgG-specific antibody levels in 18 of 34 children. Serum of infected patients reacted with proteins of 14 kD to 137 kD. Some patients did not show a change in IgA serum reactivity for parasite proteins by Western blot after treatment. Seventeen children showed reduction of the reactivity or disappearance of protein reactivity (mainly the 14-kD, 122-kD, and 137-kD proteins). Antibody response was not related to clinical status, but quantitative and qualitative serum antibody response against G. intestinalis infection could be used to assess levels of new protein markers that decrease or disappear with successful chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Central of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. jcjimenez488@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinon
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dive
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capron
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dei-Cas
authors.forename: Jacinto
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Convit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000276:immunology*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013383:Suburban Population; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008795:Metronidazole; C016724:secnidazole