Antibody responses to Onchocerca volvulus in Ecuadorian Indians and blacks

In Ecuador, previous epidemiological studies of onchocerciasis affecting a population consisting of Blacks of African origin and Amerindians of the Chachi tribe, have demonstrated different frequencies of clinical disease manifestations in each racial group. To explore the possibility of differential antibody responses to O. volvulus antigens in this population, a subset of sera from these two groups of Ecuadorians with onchocerciasis was analyzed for antibody to O. volvulus antigens using ELISA and Western blot techniques. Significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin against O. volvulus were demonstrated in Chachi Indians compared to native Blacks of African origin: total Ig (p = 0.049), IgG (P = 0.002) IgG4 (p = 0.019) and IgA (p = 0.035). Western blot analysis of sera from 41 persons demonstrated more intense and more frequent recognition of low molecular weight parasite antigens in the Chachi compared to a similar group of male and female Ecuadorian Blacks. These data suggest that the intensity of antibody responses to O. volvulus antigens may reflect the influence of racial factors in the pathogenesis of onchocerciasis in Ecuador.