Possible Approach for Serodiagnosis of Ascariasis by Evaluation of Immunoglobulin G4 Response UsingAscaris lumbricoidesSomatic Antigen

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Abstract
Somatic antigen ofAscaris lumbricoideswas purified to homogeneity (molecular mass, 34 kDa) by ammonium sulfate fractionation and successive chromatographic procedures, namely, gel permeation, ion exchange, and high-performance gel permeation liquid chromatographies. The antigen showed strong binding with immunoglobulin G (IgG) inAscaris-infested patients and was cross-reactive with IgE and IgG in patients infested with other nematodes. It reacted specifically with IgG4 (P< 0.001) in 63Ascaris-infested patients, which represented 65% of the total IgG response, though cross-reactivity with IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 subclasses was observed, indicating the unique specificity of this test system and its potential utility in the serodiagnosis of ascariasis.