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Antibody responses to experimental Brugia malayi infections in patas and rhesus monkeys
Abstract:
Humoral antibody responses in experimental infections with Brugia malayi (subperiodic strain) were compared in two primate species. Erythrocebus patas and Macaca mulatta. Antibody responses were related to the infection protocol and the duration and magnitude of microfilaremia. Patas monkeys were uniformly susceptible to infection and characteristically exhibited prolonged microfilaremia; infections in Rhesus monkeys produced low and usually microfilaremia. Antibody, measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with extracts of adult Brugia and microfilariae as antigens, declined at patency in Patas monkeys and there was an inverse relationship between serum antibody concentration and the number of circulating microfilariae. Rhesus monkeys generally had high, sustained antibody levels relative to Patas monkeys, but antibody levels were comparable in the two species when the numbers of circulating microfilariae were similar. By fluorescent antibody technique, antibodies reactive with somatic antigens of microfilariae were detected in all infected monkeys; antibodies reactive with the cuticle of infective larvae were also present in both primates and were consistently detected in monkeys receiving multiple infections. Antibodies (IgG, IgM) reactive with the sheath of microfilariae were detected only in certain Rhesus monkeys which were essentially amicrofilaremic and sera with antibodies specific for microfilarial sheath promoted in vitro microfilarial agglutination and leukocyte adherence.
Insights
This study compared antibody responses to Brugia malayi in patas and rhesus monkeys. Patas monkeys showed prolonged microfilaremia and declining antibodies, while rhesus monkeys had sustained high antibody levels.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Primate Research
Background:
- Brugia malayi causes lymphatic filariasis, a significant human disease.
- Understanding host immune responses in primate models is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Primate species exhibit varying susceptibility and immune responses to filarial infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare humoral antibody responses to Brugia malayi in two primate species: Erythrocebus patas and Macaca mulatta.
- To investigate the relationship between antibody levels, infection protocol, and microfilaremia.
- To characterize antibody specificities against different parasite stages.
Main Methods:
- Experimental infection of patas and rhesus monkeys with Brugia malayi.
- Quantification of microfilaremia.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure antibody titers against adult worms and microfilariae.
- Fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) to detect antibodies against somatic antigens, larval cuticle, and microfilarial sheath.
Main Results:
- Patas monkeys were highly susceptible with prolonged microfilaremia and declining antibody levels at patency.
- Rhesus monkeys generally exhibited low microfilaremia and sustained high antibody levels.
- Antibodies reactive with microfilarial sheath were found in amicrofilaremic rhesus monkeys and promoted in vitro microfilarial agglutination and leukocyte adherence.
Conclusions:
- Humoral antibody responses differ significantly between patas and rhesus monkeys infected with Brugia malayi.
- Antibody levels are inversely related to microfilaremia in patas monkeys.
- Antibodies targeting microfilarial sheath may play a role in parasite clearance or immune control.