Shared antigens between Litomosoides carinii and its hosts Sigmodon hispidus and Mastomys natalensis

Using a indirect immunofluorescent technique it has been shown that host or host-like antigens are present on adults and microfilariae of Litomosoides carinii from cotton rats and multimammate rats. Red blood cell components were seldom detected on any stage but serum antigens were found associated with the cuticle of adults worms. Serum components were absent from in utero and in vitro microfilariae but were found on microfilariae from pleural exudate and host blood. These components were lost from microfilariae after their ingestion by the vector, were absent from third and fourth stage larvae but reappeared as the adults matured in the pleural cavity of a new host. Countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis showed that the components had alpha 2--beta 1 and beta 1--beta 2 mobility.