KIDNEY LESIONS IN BABOONS INFECTED WITH SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 30  (3) , 439-449
Abstract
Glomerular lesions in baboons (Papio anubis) infected with different dosage regimes of S. mansoni were studied by immunofluorescence and light microscopy on kidney sections and by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis on kidney homogenates and tissue eluates. Mild lesions, characterized by focal and segmental deposits of immune complexes, developed in 62 out of 103 baboons, irrespective of the intensity and duration of the infection. Severe, diffuse lesions developed in 6 baboons after prolonged and heavy infections. Adult worm and soluble egg antigens, together with Ig[immunoglobulin]M, IgG and C3 [complement component 3], were detected in most of the severe lesions and in some of the mild lesions. In some animals, antigens were detected in acid homogenates and eluates of kidneys which showed no deposits of Ig or complement. Renal lesions in S. mansoni infections may be attributable to the deposition of immune complexes pre-formed in the circulation. The demonstration of antigens alone in some animals may suggest an alternative possibility, namely that antigens are deposited first with a subsequent binding of antibody and complement.