Immunodiagnosis of human filariasis by counterimmunoelectrophoresis using Litomosoides carinii antigens.

The presence of precipitin antibody and soluble circulating antigen was demonstrated in sera of individuals with clinical filariasis by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Antigens derived from Litomosoides carinii and antisera raised in rabbits to the adult worm antigens were used for the detection of antibody and antigen in human sera. Of 35 subjects, 2 had microfilariae in the peripheral blood, 9 soluble circulating antigen, 19 antibody in sera, and 6 had both antigen and antibody. It suggests that 5.7% of cases diagnosed as bancroftian filariasis by parasitological examination can be increased to 62.8% by serological means.