The use of aldehydes to show a relationship between host and parasite antigens at the surface of adult male Schistosoma mansoni.

An indirect radiolabelled antibody method has been developed to measure the effects of aldehydes on the amount of antigen detectable at the surface of adult male Schistosoma mansoni. Incubation of schistosomes in formaldehyde (0.01-10% wt/vol.) or glutaraldehyde (0.01-0.1% wt/vol.) was found to result in increased exposure of parasite antigens with a concomitant decrease in the amount of surface located host RBC antigens. Those concentrations of formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde which were most effective in removing or displacing host antigens were also most able to expose parasite antigens. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that host antigens mask parasite antigens at the surface of the adult schistosome.