Diethylcarbamazine-mediated clearance of Brugia pahangi microfilariae in immunodeficient nude mice.

Congenitally athymic nude C3H/HeN mice, microfilaremic with Brugia pahangi, were treated with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC). A single oral dose (100 mg/Kg body weight) of DEC resulted in the rapid reduction of numbers of circulating microfilariae in nude, thymus-grafted nude and complement-depleted nude mice. Antibodies of the IgM and IgG isotypes were not detected in the serum of microfilaremic nudes or on the microfilarial surface. These results suggest that DEC-mediated clearance of microfilariae from the circulation of nude mice is probably independent of thymus-dependent immunological mechanisms.