Evaluation of the immune response in symptomatic and asymptomatic human giardiasis

To better understand the common association of Giardia lamblia infection and allergic reactivity, total and specific IgE values were evaluated and different manifestations of symptomatic and asymptomatic infected human hosts were analyzed. The humoral, cellular, and nonspecific immune responses were evaluated in Cuban adults. Increased total serum IgE levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in Giardia patients than in negative controls; cure of giardiasis was characterized by a decrease in IgE levels and some patients regained normal IgE values. The skin test was positive in 91% (103/123) of chronic patients and only in 23% (20/123) of negative controls (p < 0.05). A positive test was seen in patients with antecedents of recent giardiasis (< 4 months). Specific IgE was higher in patients than in control sera, and in the former it decreased with sera dilution. During the follow-up period of cured patients, the proportion of IgE decreased and the opposite occurred in noncured patients. The cellular response evaluated by LIF was positive in 92% (11/12) of carriers and significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in symptomatic patients 8% (1/12); the same occurred with IgG and IgA antibody response; titers mainly of IgA were higher in asymptomatic carriers than in patients; all carriers were negative to the skin test. These results indicate the presence of total and specific IgE responses in humans infected with Giardia, but the response in symptomatic cases (patients) is different from that in asymptomatic cases (carriers).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)