A preliminary report on materno-foetal immunological changes in schistosomiasis. II. Circulating antigens and antibodies.

Twenty five pregnant simple bilharzial patients together with 8 non-bilharzial pregnant women and 14 bilharzial non-pregnant females were included in this study. Circulating bilharzial antigens were tested in all groups by the IHA technique. Both IHA and COP were used for detection of bilharzial antibodies in the same groups. Bilharzial antigenaemia was higher in pregnant bilharzial women than in non-pregnant ones. The bilharzial antibodies were detectable in a smaller percentage of bilharzial pregnant women than in non-pregnant ones. Also, the IHA antibody titers and COP grades were lower in the former than in the latter; a total picture suggestive of depressed humoral immune response in pregnant bilharzial women. The passage of circulating bilharzial antigens and antibodies through the placenta to the foetus is demonstrated.