Immunological studies in onchocerciasis in Cameroon

Immunological studies were undertaken in a group of twenty patients with varying clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis. Significantly higher levels of immunoconglutinin, IgG and IgM, and alterations in C3 levels were found in the patient group than in controls. IgG and IgM complement-fixing antibodies to microfilariae of O.volvulus were detected in the sera of these patients. The lymphocyte transformation rate following PHA stimulation was high in patients with localised skin lesions in which the microfilariae were difficult to demonstrate in contrast to the low transformation rate obtained in those with diffuse lesions and in whom microfilariae were readily detected in skin biopsies. The significance of these findings is discussed.