Detection of circulating antigens in Gabonese patients with Loa loa filariasis.

Circulating antigens were detected in sera of Gabonese patients with Loa loa filarial infection by co-electrosyneresis (Co-ES). The serum samples selected for this study were exposed to rabbit hyperimmune antifilarial antisera and human immune antisera: specific arcs were observed in 35/60 filarial patients, of whom 24/47 were microfilaraemic and 11/13 amicofilaraemic. The identity of rabbit hyperimmune antisera and loiasial immune sera was confirmed by the continuity of precipitation arcs. These preliminary studies were carried out to develop diagnostic tools for loiasis and to study the physiopathology of immune complexes.