ANTIBODY ISOTYPES, INCLUDING IGG SUBCLASSES, IN ECUADORIAN PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY PARAGONIMIASIS

An ELISA test was developed to detect Paragonimus-specific antibodies, including IgG subclasses, using P. mexicanus crude water-soluble anti gens. The test was standardized to detect antibodies in sera of Ecuado rian patients with pulmonary paragonimiasis and negative controls fr o m the endemic area. The detected mean levels of IgG (0.753, SEM: 0.074 ) and IgM (0.303, SEM: 0.033) were significantly elevated (P<0.05). Wi thin the IgG subclasses, IgG(4) showed the highest detected mean level (0.365, SEM: 0.116) and the other three subclasses showed considerabl y lower mean levels (IgG(1), 0.186 SEM: 0.06; IgG(2), 0.046 SEM: 0.01; IgG(3), 0.123 SEM: 0.047). The number of P. mexicanus eggs found in s putum of infected individuals showed a positive correlation with the l evel of antibodies detected for IgM, IgG and its subclasses (P<0.001). The relevance of these findings in Ecuadorian patients suffering from pulmonary paragonimiasis is discussed.