CIRCULATING ANTIGENS, IMMUNE-COMPLEXES AND C3D LEVELS IN HUMAN SCHISTOSOMIASIS - RELATIONSHIP WITH SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI EGG OUTPUT

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (2) , 219-225
Abstract
Circulating schistosome antigens (CSA), circulating immune complexes (CIC) and C3 breakdown product, C3d[complement component 3 fragment d]-were investigated in human schistosomiasis in comparison to the S. mansoni egg count. A close relationship was observed between the mean number of eggs/g of stool and the detection of CSA (evaluated by the radioimmunoprecipitation-PEG [polyethylere glycol] assay), CIC (C1q[complement component 1 fragment q]-binding test) and C3d levels (quantitated by radial immunodiffusion). All the patients with > 500 S. mansoni eggs/g of stool also presented antigen 4, specific of the genus Schistosoma, in the serum. A significant correlation was noticed between levels of CSA and CIC. This suggests the involvement of several schistosome antigens in the detected CIC. No relationship was not between CIC and C3d levels. There was a highly significant correlation between levels of CSA and C3d. The interaction between certain schistosome antigens and the complement system is discussed.