The recognition of antigens on the surface of adult and L4 Necator americanus by human and hamster post-infection sera.

The surface antigens of adult Necator americanus were recognized by post-infection hamster sera and resolved at molecular weight 93,000, 67,000, 46,000, 43,000, 32,000 and 25,000. L4 larvae in contrast had one major surface antigen, resolving at 93,000. These antigens were also recognized by a range of human sera, although on a differential basis. This suggests that the human sera tion. However, the results do indicate that the hamster model might be of immunological relevance to the human disease state, in that infected hamster recognized the full cuticular antigen spectrum of adult Necator. This, at least, gives the experimenter a convenient reference point from which to conduct further experiments incorporating parameters such as re-infection, anthelmintic treatment and genetic variability to study the effect of these modifications on the serological response.