Specific circulating immune complexes in sera of children infected with S. haematobium

ABSTRACT

Schistosomiasis is a major health problem in our country. This work is carried out for detection of specific circulating immune complexes [CICs] in S. haematobium infected children as a trial to evaluate their potential use in immunodiagnosis of the disease and in assessment of disease intensity and morbidity. Sixty seven Egyptian children from El-Minia and Sharkia Governorates were included in this study, 50 of them were infected with S. haematobium [active cases], 5 infected with parasites other than Schistosoma [infected control] and 12 children were parasites free [normal control]. Sera of all cases were examined to detect specific schistosomal circulating immune complexes. Indirect ELISA assay using monoclonal antibody 128C3/3/21 as a coating antibody was used. Forty seven out of fifty actively infected cases had positive circulating immune complexes level yielding a test sensitivity of 94 percent. All of the normal control group had negative CIC level yielding a test specificity of 100 percent. The level of CICs was significantly higher in heavily infected children [those excreting >50 eggs/l0ml urine] when compared with those with light infection [excreting <50 eggs/l0ml urine]. ELISA using highly purified monoclonal antibody appeared to be a specific and sensitive test for detection of schistosomal CICs level in the serum and evaluating the intensity of infection