Scanning electron microscopical observations on antigen-antibody coat formation on mechanically transformed Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula.

As part of a study of the antigenic composition of the tegument of mechanically transformed Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula, the phenomenon of coat formation around such schistosomula when incubated in medium containing serum of S. mansoni infected mice was investigated with light and scanning electron microscopy. Coat formation was only observed on freshly transformed schistosomula, while schistosomula that had been incubated overnight at 37 degrees C in medium without serum from infected mice were no longer able to produce a coat. When freshly transformed schistosomula were incubated in medium containing serum from infected mice, it was found that individual spines on the tegument were covered with a coat within 1 h. After 2 h of incubation, the schistosomula were completely covered with a thick coat, starting at the posterior end. This coat was actively shed by the schistosomula after 3 h of incubation. To investigate the mechanism of coat formation, experiments were carried out using serum from uninfected mice, heat-inactivated serum from infected mice, and the IgG fraction of serum from infected mice. From the experiments it was concluded that the coat consisted of antigen-antibody complexes, involving IgG antibodies and complement. A detailed analysis of the easily obtainable coats may lead to a better understanding of the antigenic structure of the cercarial and schistosomular tegumental membrane.