Browsing by Author "Kigoni, Emmanuel Paul"

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    Studies on Dipetalonema viteae (Filarioidea) in the golden hamster ( mesocricetus auratus): detection of antibodies to microfilarial cuticular antigens by immune adherence
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1978) Kigoni, Emmanuel Paul
    Immune adherence to human erythrocytes was used in the detection of antibodies to microfilarial cuticular antigens of Dipetalonema viteae in the course of a primary infection in the golden hamster, mesocricetus auratus. The immune adherence test was comparable in sensitivity to the indirect fluorescent antibody test in detecting microfilarial cuticular antibodies. These antibodies were present in the latent amicrofilaraemic stage of infection. They apperead only sporadically towards the end of microfilaraemia. Antibody neutralization by excess circulating antigen and the blocking effect of immune complexes were probably responsible for this phenomenon. Hamster serum may contain natural antibodies against human erythrocytes. The anterior and posterior portions of microfilariae seemed to be the most reactive in immune adherence. Anticuticular antibody activity was present in the 19S fraction and was probably of IgM class. Egg membrane bound complement directly. The main biological significance of immune adherence in primates seems to be the promotion of microfilarial phagocytosis, by cells the macrophage phagocytic system. It is suggested that efforts should be made to develop the immune adherence test for the serodiagnosis of human filariasis using the intact microfilarial surface as antigen.