Study on humoral and lymphocyte specific reactions in patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 25 patients [10 males and 15 females]. Their ages ranged between 8 and 45 years. The control group included 8 healthy subjects [3 females and 5 males] free of schistosomiasis and also from other parasitic diseases. Their ages ranged between 14 and 35 years. All cases were subjected to stool analysis by direct smear method, simple sedimentation technique and egg counting by modified Kato technique. The detection of immune response by IHAT [indirect haemagglutination test], colorimetric technique using MTT [Dimethyl tetrazolium salt] was used to detect lymphoblastic reaction to SEA [schistosoma egg antigen] and to PHA mitogen [phytohaemagglutinin]. The variation in stool egg counts showed insignificant difference in relation to age, IgG titre [IHAT] and lymphoblastic response to SEA and PHA among the patients group. IgG titer was found moderately high in the patients groups. The non specific lymphoblastic response to PHA was significantly higher in control group versus infected group [P < 0.001]. The lymphoblastic reaction to SEA was significantly higher in patients compared to control group [P < 0.001]