| pubmed-article:3277457 | pubmed:abstractText | Patent infections with the lymphatic filariae, Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, are associated with suppressed in vitro cellular responsiveness to filarial antigens. In studies of bancroftian filariasis in Haiti, a significant number of microfilaremic individuals can be characterized as "responders" to filarial antigens. Cells from 37/74 untreated microfilaremic subjects responded to B. pahangi antigen (stimulation ratio greater than 2) as detected by in vitro blastogenesis. A comparison of responders to nonresponders revealed a significant difference in mean B. pahangi reactivity (15,822 vs. 4,538 cpm, P less than 0.001), but no significant differences with respect to age, microfilaremia, PPD or PHA reactivity, or B. pahangi-specific antibody levels. Subtle differences may exist between these groups with respect to recognition of specific antigens on Western blots. | lld:pubmed |
