Sharing of antigens among filarial species revealed by antibody dependent cell-mediated reactions.

ABSTRACT

Antisera raised in albino rats against microfilariae of Litomosoides carinii, Brugia pahangi, Brugia malayi and sera from Bancroftian elephantiasis patients promoted rat neutrophil-mediated adherence and cytotoxicity to the microfilariae. Pre-treatment of the immune sera, with microfilarial antigen at a final concentration of 5 and 25 μg per ml blocked cellular adherence and cytotoxicity to the microfilariae indicating the presence of crossreactive antibodies. The heterologous immune sera were effective in eliminating the circulating Litomosoides carinii microfilariae in Mastomys natalensis.