Antistriational antibodies during Toxocara canis, Trichinella spiralis infections

The parasitic infections (Toxocara can is, Trichinella spiralis) are characterized by general and local symptoms including fever, muscle pain and swelling. The question was asked whether the muscle changes that occur due to larva migrans give rise to the autoimmune response. The presence of antistriational antibodies (aStrAbs) was determined in the following groups of patients: group 1--66 patients with toxocariasis and the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies, group 2--22 patients suspected of Toxocara canis infection without anti-Toxocara antibodies, group 3--20 patients with active trichinellosis confirmed by anti-Trichinella antibodies. As control 25 healthy persons (group 4) were studied. The aStrAb were tested by the indirect fluorescence using unfixed cryostat sections of human striated muscle. The following results were obtained: group 1--42 sera positive, group 2--5 sera were weakly positive, group 3--all sera showed the presence of aStrAbs, group 4--no aStrAbs. The presence of aStrAbs in patients with parasitic infections may suggest the occurrence of anti-muscle autoimmune response.