Changes in antibody profile after treatment of human onchocerciasis

To define the changes in antibody response to Onchocerca volvulus antigens after treatment of patients with onchocerciasis, IgG and IgE antibodies were examined quantitatively and qualitatively in 21 patients and 3 control individuals before and sequentially for 14 days after treatment with diethylcarbamazine. The quantitative levels of IgE and IgG responses (both polyclonal and O. volvulus-specific) remained essentially unchanged for all patients, but 9 of the 21 patients showed intensified responses to one or more parasite-specific antigens, and 8 of 21 developed antibodies to previously undetected antigens. There was a significant correlation between the intensities of infection and the development of newly recognized anti-O. volvulus antibodies. These studies demonstrate that O. volvulus-specific IgE and IgG antibody responses are, at least transiently, enhanced by treatment with diethylcarbamazine and that after treatment, parasites possibly release antigens previously hidden from the host's immune response.