Immunoglobin E and eosinophil levels in atopic and non‐atopic populations infested with hookworm

Abstract

Summary Measurements of serum IgE and blood eosinophil levels were carried out on subjects in the Eastern Highlands District of Papua New Guinea, an area of universal hookworm infestation. Subjects were divided into asthmatic, non‐asthmatic atopic, and normal groups on the basis of clinical features and immediate hypersensitivity reactions to skin prick testing with a range of allergens. Serum IgE levels and blood eosinophils were elevated in all groups as compared with values found in temperate zones. Both parameters were significantly higher in the asthmatic and non‐asthmatic groups compared with the normal group. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a function of the IgE immune system is protection against helminth infestation.

IgE, parasites and asthma in Tanzanian children

“…In addition, one group living in a community home where efforts had been made to lower the level of parasite infestation over 2 years showed a significant lowering ofthe mean serum IgE over that period. Parasite loads have been reported to be significantly lower in atopic, compared with non-atopic, villagers in New Guinea (Grove, Burston & Forbes, 1974). Our results do not demonstrate any difference in total serum IgE when children are separated into infested and noninfested groups (Table 5), nor did we demonstrate a lower parasite load in the atopic versus the non-atopic population.…”

“…Our geometric mean IgE concentrations were certainly higher than the 21 u/ml reported for a normal European population (Nye et al, 1975), but there was not the significant difference between tbe asthmatic and control that has been observed to be typical of European populations (Johansson, 1967;Havnen et al, 1973). Higher serum IgE concentrations have been found in asthmatic and atopic adult subjects in New Guinea (Grove & Forbes, 1975;Turner, Baldo & Anderson, 1975), but in the Gambia (Godfrey, 1975) no significant difference was found between adult asthmatics and controls when their serum IgE concentrations were compared. We found some suggestion of a sex-linked difference in IgE concentrations similar to that previously reported for adult asthmatics (Burr et al, 1975).…”

“…A survey of pre-school children in Ethiopia showed that those infested with parasites had a significantly higher serum IgE concentration than the uninfested (Johansson et al, 1968). Parasite loads have been reported to be significantly lower in atopic, compared with non-atopic, villagers in New Guinea (Grove, Burston & Forbes, 1974). Parasite loads have been reported to be significantly lower in atopic, compared with non-atopic, villagers in New Guinea (Grove, Burston & Forbes, 1974).…”

The immunoepidemiology of human hookworm infection

“…Anti‐hookworm antibodies of most isotypes show evidence of cross‐reactivity with other helminths, such as Ascaris lumbricoides and Schistosoma mansoni (22,24,25), but IgG4 or IgE responses are more species‐specific (23,26,27). In addition to hookworm‐specific responses, there is also a marked up‐regulation of polyclonal IgE in hookworm infection (28,29). This is accompanied by increased levels of sCD23 and IgG anti‐IgE autoantibodies (30,31).…”

Acquired resistance to the human hookworm Necator americanus in mice

“…Studies on infected volunteers (Ball & Bartlett 1969, Ogilvie et aE. 1978, Maxwell et al 1987, Carroll & Grove 1986b) and on naturally infected individuals (Kumar et al 1980, Biroum-Noerjasin 1973, Grove, Burston & Forbes 1974, Villarejos et al 1975) demonstrate marked serological reactivity to hookworms, parasite antigens, eosinophilia and possible cellular involvement (Taylor & Turton 1976, Maxwell et al 1987. However, a strong correlation between these phenomena and host protective immunity has yet to be conclusively established.…”