Immunoprecipitins in human schistosomiasis detected with adult worm antigens released by 3M KC1

Abstract

Adult Schistosoma mansoni extracts obtained by agitation in 3 M KCl (EKCl) and extracts obtained by homogenization in saline (EHOM) were compared. using sera from 97 schistosome patients from Brazil with hepatointestinal disease and viable eggs in the stools. The 2 extracts were studied by immunoelectroosmophoresis (IEOP) and immunodifusion (ID) methods. EKCl extracts showed more immunoprecipitation lines than EHOM extracts when tested by IEOP against the human sera; 3 M KCl possibly released antigens not present in the saline extracts. Another possibility was that 3 M KCl potentiated antigenic determinants during the extraction procedure. The percentage of positive sera showing immunoprecipitation detected by IEOP seemed dependent on the method of extraction, while with ID there was no difference; this could not be explained.