Influence of Mansonella perstans microfilaraemia on total IgE levels in Gabonese patients co-infected with Loa loa

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 131; pp. 11 - 15
• Main Authors: Bouyou-Akotet, M.K., Moussavou Boussougou, M.N., Ovono-Abessolo, F., Owono-Medang, M., Kombila, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; Antibodies, Helminth - blood; Coinfection; Female; Gabon; Gabon - epidemiology; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Loa - immunology; Loa loa; Loiasis - epidemiology; Loiasis - immunology; Loiasis - parasitology; Male; Mansonella - immunology; Mansonella perstans; Mansonelliasis - epidemiology; Mansonelliasis - immunology; Mansonelliasis - parasitology; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Total IgE; Gabon; Africa; Gabon; Mansonella perstans; Total IgE; Loa loa
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.11.012

•Mansonella perstans is frequently responsible for subjective clinical symptoms.•IgE titres are elevated in case of M. perstans and Loa loa dual infection.•IgE titres are correlated with M. perstans microfilaraemia. Mansonella (M.) perstans filariasis is widely found in Africa, including Gabon where Loa loa is also endemic. This study reports the total IgE titres according to different bioclinical forms of single or co-infection with L. loa and M. perstans in 138 patients and 20 healthy controls. The median parasite density was significantly higher in cases of loiasis. IgE titres were higher in patients with microscopic dual-infection and in the group of patients with occult loiasis plus M. perstans microfilaraemia (8425 [5292–20,679]KUI/L and 6304 [1045–10,326]KUI/L, respectively), compared to individuals with either microfilaraemic Loa loa (3368 [1414–7074]KUI/L) or Mansonella (4370 [1478–7334]KUI/L) single infections (p<0.01). IgE levels were positively correlated with M. perstans microfilaraemia (rho=0.27; p<0.01). Compared to single infections, dual M. perstans–L. loa infection induces very high total IgE titres. Studies correlating IgE titres and clinical symptoms are needed to confirm the involvement of this immunoglobulin in the pathological processes during filariasis.