Antifilarial cellular responses detected in a Haitian pediatric population by use of a microblastogenesis assay

J Infect Dis. 1991 Oct;164(4):811-3. doi: 10.1093/infdis/164.4.811.

Abstract

Previous reports have demonstrated age-related shifts in antifilarial humoral immune responses in 6- to 10-year-old Haitian children; the responses consisted of elevated parasite-specific IgG2 and IgG3 in amicrofilaremic children and elevated IgG4 in microfilaremic children. In this study, the cell-mediated immune responses to soluble adult and microfilarial extracts of Brugia pahangi, determined by use of a microblastogenesis assay, were examined. Capillary blood samples were collected by finger prick from 176 Haitian children in an area with endemic Wuchereria bancrofti. Antigen-specific cellular responsiveness varied as a function of infection status but not age or sex; amicrofilaremic children had significantly greater responses to adult antigens than did microfilaremic children. Significant responses were detected in children less than 2 years of age; thus, correlations observed between filarial antigen-specific responses and infection status are established early in life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Brugia / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Filariasis / blood
  • Filariasis / immunology*
  • Haiti
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Infant
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Male