DETECTION OF CIRCULATING ANTIGENS IN GABONESE PATIENTS WITH LOA LOA FILARIASIS

Circulating antigens were detected in sera of Gabonese patients with L oa loa filarial infection by co-electrosyneresis (Co-ES). The serum sa mples selected for this study were exposed to rabbit hyperimmune antif ilarial antisera and human immune antisera: specific arcs were observe d in 35/60 filarial patients, of whom 24/47 were microfilaraemic and 1 1/13 amicofilaraemic. The identity of rabbit-hyperimmune antisera and loiasial immune sera was confirmed by the continuity of precipitation arcs. These preliminary studies were carried out to develop diagnostic tools for loiasis and to study the physiopathology of immune complexe s.