Arthritis in children: an occult manifestation of Bancroftian filariasis.

A form of unexplained arthritis, not attributable to known causes, seen in children (0-14 yrs) in this endemic zone of Bancroftian filariasis was investigated for its association with filariasis. Nineteen cases of undiagnosed arthritis were screened for filarial IgG antibodies to Wuchereria by Stick Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). All had large joint involvement, the commonest joint affected being the knee joint.

Evaluation of fractionated circulating filarial antigen in diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis.

Circulating filarial antigen (CFA) isolated from the plasma of microfilaraemic patients was fractionated on an Ultrogel ACA 34 column. The second protein peak (CFA2) showing filarial antigen was further fractionated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography into two fractions (CFA2 DE1 and DE2). CFA2 DE1 fraction, showing antigenic activity, was further evaluated in an ELISA for its diagnostic use in bancroftian filariasis.

Filarial antigen, antibody and circulating immune complexed antigen levels in Bancroftian filariasis by stick ELISA.

Filarial antigen, antibody and circulating immune complexed antigen (CIC-Ag) profiles were studied by stick ELISA in the sera of patients who were in different stages of Bancroftian filarial infection. The geometric mean titres (GMT), of filarial IgG antibody in patients with microfilaraemia (424) and all three grades of clinical filariasis (1485, 3845 and 40216 for grades I, II and III respectively), were significantly higher than in normal controls from endemic areas (47). If a filarial antibody titre of greater than 300 is considered positive, the sera of 94% of patients with microfilaraemia and all those with clinical filariasis were positive.

Wb E34 monoclonal antibody: further characterization and diagnostic use in bancroftian filariasis.

The Wb E34 monoclonal antibody raised against Wuchereria bancrofti microfilarial excretory secretory (mf ES) antigen was reported to be useful in detecting the filarial antigen in W. bancrofti and Brugia malayi infected sera. Further studies in this laboratory showed that this monoclonal antibody reacts with a stage-specific antigen of W.