Heterophile antibody to red cells in human trypanosomiasis.

The heterophile red cell antibodies formed in human trypanosomiasis have been investigated. It has been shown that infection with Trypanosoma rhodesiense induces agglutinins reactive with sheep and rabbit red cells, whilst Trypanosoma gambiense induces agglutinins which react only with rabbit red cells. Both types of antibody can be distinguished from similar antibodies produced by infectious mononucleosis and Forssman antigen, and the detection and characterization of the antibodies therefore provides a basis for clinical diagnostic tests in human trypanosomiasis.