Characterization of Entamoeba histolytica antigen-antibody reaction by gel diffusion

• Published in: Experimental parasitology Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 224 - 235
• Main Author: Maddison, Shirley E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.04.1965
• Subjects: Amebiasis; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Clostridium perfringens; Dysentery, Amebic; Entamoeba histolytica; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; OldMedline; Precipitin Tests; AMEBIASIS; CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS; PRECIPITIN TESTS; EXPERIMENTAL LAB STUDY; IMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS; ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY REACTIONS; GEL DIFFUSION TESTS
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-4894(65)90047-0
• ISSN: 0014-4894

A nonspecific factor, possibly an antibody stimulated in response to Clostridium welchii, has been demonstrated by gel-diffusion techniques in some human sera. Although this reaction occurs in most patients with amebic liver abscess, it is present in other diseases, particularly those associated with tissue destruction, and further study is necessary to determine its significance. Antibodies apparently directed against specific amebic components were detected in a high proportion of patients with invasive amebiasis, a smaller proportion of cyst-passers, and a much lower proportion of random subjects without symptoms attributable to Entamoeba histolytica. While the nonspecific “Welchii” reaction frequently disappears rapidly under therapy, the apparently specific anti-amebic precipitins persisted in those patients followed up. The presence of these precipitins in cyst-passers and in those without apparent amebiasis may be evidence of previous or occult tissue invasion by E. histolytica. The recurrence of invasive amebiasis in patients showing such precipitins suggest that they play no part in protective immunity. The demonstration of several precipitins in “specific” anti-amebic reactions indicates that separation of the antigenic components and more extensive follow-up studies are necessary to define the significance of each antigen-antibody system. If it can be confirmed that these precipitins are an indication of past or present invasion by E. histolytica and do not appear in the absence of invasion, their presence will be of diagnostic and epidemiological value in amebiasis.