Antifilarial and anti PPD IgM antibodies in cord blood.

Tuberculosis and Filariasis are commonly encountered in South India, more so in the low socio-economic group. This study was undertaken to find out the fetal immune response to maternal filariasis and tuberculosis. The presence of anti-filarial and anti-PPD IgG and IgM antibodies in the mother and cord blood at the time of delivery was identified by ELISA. Six out of 29 cases showed IgM against Brugia malayi antigen in the cord blood. In both instances, 6 out of 29 for PPD and 7 out of 29 for B. malayi, the maternal blood too showed the presence of IgM to these two antigens. Comparison with anti-Ascaris lumbricoides IgM antibodies in mother and cord blood in these (6 out of 29 against PPD and 7 out of 29 against B. malayi) cases did not show a similar distribution of IgM antibodies in mother and cord blood, indicating that there is a fetal response to maternal filariasis and tuberculosis.