Antibodies to diethylcarbamazine cross-react with microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti.

Antibodies directed against the microfilarial sheath have been instrumental in the immune elimination of circulating microfilariae in human lymphatic filariasis. We report here that antibodies to diethylcarbamazine (DEC, the most commonly used anti-filarial drug) cross-react with the sheath of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae. Antibodies with reactivity to DEC were raised in rabbits by immunization with a conjugate of methylpiperazine carboxylic acid (MPCA, an acid hydrolysis product of DEC) coupled to bovine serum albumin. The reactivity of these antibodies with microfilarial sheath of W. bancrofti was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescent assay and indirect immunoperoxidase assay. This reactivity could be effectively inhibited by pre-incubation of the antisera with different haptens such as DEC, MPCA or piperazine citrate.