In utero exposure to Onchocerca volvulus: relationship to subsequent infection intensity and cellular immune responsiveness. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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In utero exposure to Onchocerca volvulus: relationship to subsequent infection intensity and cellular immune responsiveness.

Infect Immun. 1996 Dec;64(12):5061-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/97101020
Elson LH; Days A; Calvopina M; Paredes W; Araujo E; Guderian RH; Bradley JE; Nutman TB; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy; and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.

Abstract: Afro-Ecuadorian individuals from an area where Onchocerca volvulus is hyperendemic have been monitored for infection over the past 16 years. To determine whether in utero exposure to O. volvulus biases a child's subsequent immune responses, children (9 to 16 years old) for whom the mother's infection status was known were chosen for study. Children of infected mothers (n = 19) had significantly higher levels of skin microfilariae than children of uninfected mothers (n = 13; P = 0.021). While the serum levels of O. volvulus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG subclasses, and IgE showed no significant differences between the two groups of children, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children of infected mothers produced higher levels of Th2-type cytokines to several parasite antigens and lower levels of Th1-type cytokines to nonparasite antigens than those of children of uninfected mothers. Thus, in utero exposure to O. volvulus has a long-term effect on the child's subsequent cellular immune response that may render the child more susceptible to O. volvulus infection postnatally.
Keywords: Adolescence Animal Antibodies, Helminth/BLOOD/*IMMUNOLOGY Child Female Human Immunity, Cellular Infant, Newborn *Onchocerca volvulus Onchocerciasis/BLOOD/*IMMUNOLOGY Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Th1 Cells/*IMMUNOLOGY/PARASITOLOGY Th2 Cells/*IMMUNOLOGY/PARASITOLOGY Uterus/IMMUNOLOGY/*PARASITOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDadolescenceanimalantibodies,helminth/blood/KWDimmunologychildfemalehumanimmunity,cellularinfant,newbornKWDonchocercavolvulusonchocerciasis/blood/KWDimmunologysupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tth1cells/KWDimmunology/parasitologyth2cells/KWDimmunology/parasitologyuterus/immunology/KWDparasitologyjournalarticle
97033030
M9730993

Copyright © 1997 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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