Serum immunoglobulin concentrations in human S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections in the Sudan, with special reference to the effect of chemotherapy.

The serum immunoglobulin concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM were studied in 111 selected Sudanese patients with S. mansoni infections and 48 with S. haematobium infections before and 6 weeks after successful treatment with hycanthone; 52 local individuals were studied as controls. Both IgG and IgM were found to be significantly raised in S. mansoni patients compared with controls, while only IgG was significantly raised in patients with S. haematobium infection. S. mansoni patients with the hepatosplenic and splenic forms had higher IgG and IgM levels than those with the intestinal and hepatic forms. No relationship could be established between the levels of immunoglobulins and parasite loads. A rise in IgG was noted in 60% of patients with S. mansoni infection 6 weeks after successful treatment with hycanthone whereas IgM decreased.