ANTISTRIATIONAL ANTIBODIES DURING TOXOCARA-CANIS, TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS INFECTIONS

The parasitic infections (Toxocara canis, Trichinella spiralis) are ch aracterized 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 p resence of antistriational antibodies (aStrAbs) was determined in the following groups of patients: group 1-66 patients with toxocariasis an d the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies, group 2-22 patients suspec ted of Toxocara canis infection without anti-Toxocara antibodies, grou p 3-20 patients with active trichinellosis confirmed by anti-Trichinel la antibodies. As control 25 healthy persons (group 4) were studied. T he aStrAb were tested by the indirect fluorescence using unfixed cryos tat sections of human striated muscle. The following results were obta ined: group 1-42 sera positive, group 2-5 sera were weakly positive, g roup 3-all sera showed the presence of aStrAbs, group 4-no aStrAbs. Th e presence of aStrAbs in patients with parasitic infections may sugges t the occurrence of anti-muscle autoimmune response. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.