CIRCULATING ANTIBODIES DIRECTED AGAINST TRYPTOPHAN-LIKE EPITOPES IN SERA OF PATIENTS WITH HUMAN AFRICAN TRYPANOSOMIASIS

Human African trypanosomiasis is often associated with an intense prol iferation of B lymphocytes, leading to polyclonal antibody synthesis. Using a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, we have fou nd highly significant levels of circulating anti-conjugated tryptophan -like epitope antibodies in sera of patients with sleeping sickness. T hese antibodies were immunoglobulins (Ig) of the M isotype. There was no correlation between immunologic binding and the Ig levels found in sera of patients with human African trypanosomiasis. Higher antibody l evels in stage II of the disease than in stage I may be related to dam age to the central nervous system. The specificity of this immunologic binding was evaluated by 1) comparison with that obtained with other related conjugates and 2) serum titration. Anti-conjugated tryptophan- like epitope antibodies were not found in other neurologic diseases te sted. Their involvement in this pathology remains unknown.