Immunoreactive antigenic sites of Cysticercus cellulosae relevant to human neurocysticercosis--immunocytochemical localization using human CSF as source of antibody.

With a view to identify the relevant antigens of Cysticercus cellulosae, recognized within human central nervous system, immunocytochemical localization of antigens on the cestode larva has been carried out using cerebrospinal fluid of patients as the source of primary antibody. CSF from nine proven cases of neurocysticercosis, two cases of culture proven tuberculous meningitis and two cases of spinal disc prolapse with no other infective or neurological disorder were used in this study. The CSF from all the cases of neurocysticercosis intensely reacted with the glycocalyx over the integument of the cyst bladder wall. The other structures recognised by the CSF antibodies were cytoplasm of the tegumentary cytons, stroma and the ductular system of the bladder wall. The cells, stroma and calcareous corpuscles of the scolex reacted variably with the CSF. Tegument of the spiral canal and sucker muscles in the scolex were not immunoreactive. We strongly suggest that the glycocalyx is the most antigenic anatomical structure of the Cysticercus cellulosae and the patients develop antibodies to it.