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Published on: June 15, 2018
Antibody response in children infected with Giardia intestinalis before and after treatment with Secnidazole
Juan C Jiménez1, Anthony Pinon, Daniel Dive
1Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Central of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. jcjimenez488@hotmail.com
Insights
This study found that while Giardia intestinalis infection in children was successfully treated with secnidazole, antibody levels varied. Researchers suggest monitoring these antibody responses could identify new protein markers for effective chemotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant public health concern, particularly in developing regions.
- Giardia intestinalis is a common cause of parasitic gastroenteritis in children worldwide.
- Assessing the host immune response is crucial for understanding infection dynamics and treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites, specifically Giardia intestinalis, in school children in Caracas, Venezuela.
- To evaluate the changes in immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels against G. intestinalis before and after treatment with secnidazole.
- To identify potential protein biomarkers associated with successful antiparasitic chemotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples from 364 school children were analyzed for intestinal parasites.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot were used to measure IgA and IgG antibody levels against G. intestinalis.
- Serum reactivity against parasite proteins was assessed before and after treatment with secnidazole.
Main Results:
- Giardia intestinalis was the most prevalent parasite, found in 34 children.
- Successful treatment with secnidazole led to a reduction in IgA levels in 26/34 children and IgG levels in 18/34 children.
- Western blot analysis showed decreased reactivity to specific parasite proteins (14-kD, 122-kD, 137-kD) in 17 children post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- Secnidazole effectively cures Giardia intestinalis infections in children.
- While antibody responses varied, quantitative and qualitative assessment of serum antibodies against G. intestinalis can help identify protein markers that diminish with successful treatment.
- This approach may offer a novel method for monitoring therapeutic outcomes in parasitic infections.
Abstract:
We examined 364 school children for intestinal parasites in a sub-urban zone of Caracas, Venezuela. Giardia intestinalis was the most prevalent parasite in stool samples from 34 children. Levels of IgA and IgG antibodies to G. intestinalis were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot before and after treatment with secnidazole. All patients were cured with a reduction of IgA antibody levels in 26 of 34 children and a reduction in IgG-specific antibody levels in 18 of 34 children. Serum of infected patients reacted with proteins of 14 kD to 137 kD. Some patients did not show a change in IgA serum reactivity for parasite proteins by Western blot after treatment. Seventeen children showed reduction of the reactivity or disappearance of protein reactivity (mainly the 14-kD, 122-kD, and 137-kD proteins). Antibody response was not related to clinical status, but quantitative and qualitative serum antibody response against G. intestinalis infection could be used to assess levels of new protein markers that decrease or disappear with successful chemotherapy.
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