Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis in French Polynesia: Age-specific patterns of microfilaremia, circulating antigen, and specific IgG and IgG4 responses according to transmission level

• Published in: International journal for parasitology Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 81 - 85
• Main Authors: Chanteau, S., Glaziou, P., Plichart, C., Luquiaud, P., Moulia-Pelat, J.P., N'Guyen, L., Cartel, J.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 1995
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; age pattern; Aged; Animals; anti- Brugia malayi IgG4; Antibodies, Helminth - blood; Antigens, Helminth - blood; Bancrofitian filariasis; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Filariasis - epidemiology; Filariasis - immunology; Filariasis - transmission; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Male; microfilaremia; Middle Aged; Og4C3 antigenemia; Polynesia - epidemiology; Sex Factors; Wuchereria bancrofiti; Wuchereria bancrofti; Wuchereria bancrofti - immunology; Polynesia; French Polynesia; anti- Brugia malayi IgG4; Wuchereria bancrofiti; age pattern; microfilaremia; Bancrofitian filariasis; Og4C3 antigenemia
• ISSN: 0020-7519; 1879-0135
• DOI: 10.1016/0020-7519(94)00088-6

The age-specific patterns of microfilaremia, Og4C3 antigenemia, anti- Brugia malayi IgG and IgG4 were assessed in 3 villages of low, medium and high transmission level for Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis. The prevalence rates for each of the 4 markers were clearly age dependent and their patterns strongly associated with the transmission level. The antigenemia prevalence rate was consistently higher than the microfilaremia prevalence rate, in all age groups. The prevalences of anti- B. malayi IgG and IgG4 responses were very similar and much higher than those of microfilaremia or antigenemia. Antibody responses reached the plateau at an earlier age and at a higher prevalence with increased intensity of transmission. For all the markers, the prevalence rates were significantly higher in males than in females.