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Immune complexes in Indian kala-azar.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Indian kala-azar patients exhibit circulating immune complexes and low complement levels, potentially impacting immune responses. Crithidia luciliae can substitute for Leishmania donovani in antibody testing.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Kala-azar, or visceral leishmaniasis, is a severe parasitic disease.
- Patients often show impaired cell-mediated immunity.
- The role of immune complexes in pathogenesis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate circulating immune complexes and complement levels in Indian kala-azar patients.
- To evaluate the utility of Crithidia luciliae as an antigen for antibody detection.
- To explore the relationship between immune complexes and immune response deficits.
Main Methods:
- Platelet aggregation, complement deviation, and polyethylene glycol precipitation tests for immune complexes.
- Indirect immunofluorescence assay using Leishmania donovani and Crithidia luciliae for antibodies.
- Mancini technique for serum complement C3 levels.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of circulating immune complexes was detected in patients.
- Significantly lowered serum complement (C3) levels were observed.
- Crithidia luciliae demonstrated shared antigens with Leishmania donovani, proving effective for antibody detection.
Conclusions:
- Circulating immune complexes and hypocomplementemia are characteristic of Indian kala-azar.
- These findings suggest a link between immune complexes and depressed cell-mediated immunity.
- Crithidia luciliae is a viable alternative antigen for diagnosing kala-azar via immunofluorescence assays.