furapyrimidone and Elephantiasis--Filarial

We developed a sandwich ELISA with monoclonal antibodies to monitor filarial antigens in animals and patients after infection and treatment. Levels of antimicrofilarial antibodies and parasite antigens were measured periodically in 40 B. malayi infected jirds. In all animals L3 HC11 antigen was detected earlier than Mf ES34 antigen, while antimicrofilarial antibodies appeared much more slowly. These serologic changes precede the onset of patent infections. After 3 courses of treatment with DEC and M170, the levels of parasite antigen in sera and of Mf in peritoneal cavities were monitored in 23 infected jirds. In 8 jirds Mf became negative, no adult worms were found in 7 jirds and a single degenerating female worm was present in 1 jird. ES34 and HC11 were undetectable in 8/8 and 6/8 necropsy sera. Mf persisted in 11 animals, 9 jirds were necropsied, 8 contained adult worms. Detectable levels of ES34 or HC11 antigen were present in 7/9 and 8/9 from these animals. In sham-treatment, few changes were noted in control animals. Thus, parasitological findings at necropsy are correlated with the results of antigen detection assay. We analyzed serial serum samples from 32 bancroftian microfilaremia collected 1-42 months after DEC therapy. Mf resolved rapidly in all treated individuals. ES34 disappeared faster than HC11, 3 months after treatment. Levels of ES34 and HC11 antigens remained detectable or rising after treatment in 8 and 10 individuals. Four patients' Mf recurred 20-42 months after treatment. These findings show that the remaining or a rise in serum levels of antigen after therapy predicts recurrent microfilaremia in patients and additional treatment is needed.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigens, Helminth; Brugia; Diethylcarbamazine; Elephantiasis, Filarial; Filaricides; Gerbillinae; Humans; Microfilariae; Nitrofurans; Wuchereria bancrofti

Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and immunoenzymatic staining technique (IEST), using frozen section of Brugia malayi and Setaria cervi adult worms, were applied to detect levels of IgG and IgM antibodies in jirds infected with Brugia malayi before and after treatment. Both methods could show the dynamic of antibodies during the course of infection. The peak of IgG and IgM antibodies were at the 12-14th week and 2-6th week after infection respectively. A high correlation was observed between the levels of IgG antibody and the period of infection, whereas the antibody titer had no relation with the density of infection. During 6 months after treatment, the levels of antibodies detected by IFAT and IEST using two antigens decreased to low titre. It is considered that IFAT and IEST using heterologous and homologous antigens could be equally used for the serodiagnosis and the evaluation of cure in filariasis.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; Brugia; Elephantiasis, Filarial; Filaricides; Gerbillinae; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Nitrofurans