acid-phosphatase and Filariasis

A very high prevalence of microfilaremia of 42.68 per cent out of 164 canine blood samples examined was observed in Cherthala (of Alappuzha district of Kerala state), a known human Brugia malayi endemic area of south India. The species of canine microfilariae were identified as Dirofilaria repens, Brugia malayi, and Acanthocheilonema reconditum. D. repens was the most commonly detected species followed by B. pahangi. D. immitis was not detected in any of the samples examined. Based on molecular techniques, microfilariae with histochemical staining pattern of "local staining at anal pore and diffuse staining at central body" was identified as D. repens in addition to those showing acid phosphatase activity only at the anal pore. Even though B. malayi like acid phosphatase activity was observed in few dogs examined, they were identified as genetically closer to B. pahangi. Hence, the possibility of dogs acting as reservoirs of human B. malayi in this area was ruled out.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Breeding; Brugia malayi; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Endemic Diseases; Female; Filariasis; Humans; India; Male; Microfilariae; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Prevalence

We measured the levels of lysosomal enzymes and acetylcholine in Wuchereria bancrofti-infected asymptomatic microfilaraemic human serum, and found a significant decrease in the activity of beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase compared to normal serum. Acetylcholine levels were also decreased during infection. However, after giving diethylcarbamazine (6 mg/kg body wt/day) the level of lysosomal enzymes and acetylcholine increased and reached a normal value after two weeks of therapy. It is proposed that parasites secrete acetylcholinesterase in the circulation which degrades acetylcholine. Since acetylcholine stimulates the release of lysosomal enzymes and phagocytosis, the immune response of the host is suppressed during infection. During diethylcarbamazine (DEC) therapy the parasitic enzyme is inhibited by the drug and the normal level of acetylcholine is resumed, which again stimulates the release of lysosomal enzyme and the process of phagocytosis.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Diethylcarbamazine; Filariasis; Filaricides; Glucuronidase; Humans; India; Lysosomes; Microfilariae; Poverty Areas; Time Factors; Urban Population; Wuchereria bancrofti

Acid phosphatase activity was demonstrated in smears of Setaria labiato-papillosa microfilariae by the naphthol AS-TR-phosphate method. The staining was restricted to 3 distinct sites, corresponding to the excretory pore, the inner body and the anal pore. This staining pattern was compared with those of Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens and a Setaria of horse origin.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dipetalonema; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Filariasis; Filarioidea; Horse Diseases; Horses; Male; Microfilariae; Species Specificity; Staining and Labeling

The sheath and cuticle of microfilariae of Brugia pahangi were examined by electron microscopy and the presence of various proteins, carbohydrate and enzymes sought. The epicuticle of microfilariae consists of a pentalaminate structure (24.0 +/- 1.4 nm), a cortex (13.7 +/- 3.6 nm) and a basal zone (27.8 +/- 4.8 nm) which is often banded in appearance. The pentalaminate layers are not continuous at the base of the interannular grooves. The sheath and the epicuticle of B. pahangi stained positively with concanavalin A and saccharated iron oxide. The sheath of approximately 50% of microfilariae showed activity for acid phosphatase, 5' nucleotidase and peroxidase, but not for ATPases, alkaline phosphatase or esterase. No enzymes were detected in the epicuticle although the cortex and basal layers of the cuticle did show enzymic activity. Structures beneath the cuticle in the main body of the worms contained considerable enzymic activity. Microfilariae directly isolated from the blood of infected cats were found by immunochemical means to carry serum proteins on their sheaths but not on their cuticles. These studies extend the definition of the outer structures of microfilariae and confirm that they significantly differ in morphology and enzyme content from typical mammalian cell membranes.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Brugia; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Carbohydrates; Cats; Filariasis; Filarioidea; Microfilariae; Microscopy, Electron

Activities of certain acid hydrolases (viz. acid phosphatase, beta-glucosidase, beta-galactosidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and cathepsine) of post mitochondrial fraction of liver and spleen were studied during the course of Dipetalonema viteae infection in Mastomys natalensis. The values are significantly higher from prepatent to patent phase of infection as compared with normal animals. However, a decrease in the activity of hepatic acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was noticed in latent phase of infection while a several fold increase in the activity of these enzymes was observed in splenic tissue when there were no detectable microfilariae (mf) in peripheral circulation. The results suggest that lysosomal acid hydrolases which constitute an important component of resistance may be activated by mf products through the sensitized cells of RE system.

Topics: Acetylglucosaminidase; Acid Phosphatase; Animals; beta-Galactosidase; beta-Glucosidase; Cathepsins; Dipetalonema Infections; Filariasis; Hydrolases; Liver; Lysosomes; Mice; Muridae; Spleen

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Filariasis; Humans; Microfilariae; Wuchereria; Wuchereria bancrofti

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Dipetalonema; Dipetalonema Infections; Dirofilaria immitis; Dirofilariasis; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Filariasis; Filarioidea; Filtration; Histocytochemistry

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Blood; Filariasis; Humans; Microfilariae; Wuchereria

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Dipetalonema; Filariasis; Filarioidea; Haplorhini; Histocytochemistry; Monkey Diseases; Nematode Infections