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Biomedical subjects

B H Kwa

Publications and source records attributed to B H Kwa.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Studies on the experimental chemotherapy of Angiostrongylus malaysiensis infection in rats with mebendazole and levamisole.

The effect of levamisole hydrochloride and mebendazole on Angiostrongylus malaysiensis infection in albino rats was studied. Animals at different stages of infection were treated with various oral doses of levamisole and mebendazole with the aim of finding an effective treatment regime. Levamisole was most effective for treating rats seven days after infection but its efficacy dropped as infection progressed. Mebendazole given at a dose of 1 mg/kg for five days was more effective against early larval stages (97.39% efficacy). At 5 mg/kg for five days mebendazole was more effective than levamisole against all stages of the infection.

Angiostrongylus↗

Immune responses in human Brugia malayi infections: serum dependent cell-mediated destruction of infective larvae in vitro.

Serum dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of subperiodic Brugia malayi infective larvae in vitro was investigated. In vitro cellular adherence of normal human buffy coat cells to infective larvae of B. malayi was promoted by sera from patients with elephantiasis, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) and amicrofilaraemic symptomatic filariasis, as well as by sera from normal subjects from filariasis endemic areas. However, strongest adherence was observed with TPE sera. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies confirmed that the cellular adherence resulted in gross surface damage to the infective larvae. Studies with the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) suggested that IgG and/or IgM might be involved in the process of adherence. Complement did not appear to be important.

Animals↗

Chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis of Angiostrongylus malaysiensis infection in rats with levamisole and mebendazole.

The chemoprophylactic and chemotherapeutic effects of levamisole and mebendazole on Angiostrongylus malaysiensis infection in rats were studied. Both drugs were ineffective in preventing infection while the post-infection treatment showed 100% efficacy. Furthermore, levamisole and mebendazole when given in combination appeared to have an antagonistic effect.

Administration, Oral↗

Specific depression of cell-mediated immunity in Malayan filariasis.

The possible depression of cell-mediated immunity by long-term Brugia malayi infection in jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) was investigated. Different groups of infected jirds were sensitized with dinitrofluorobenzene, sheep red blood cells, Dirofilaria immitis adult antigens and B. malayi adult antigens. The 24-hour delayed type hypersensitivity skin response to testing with antigen was measured as an in vivo correlate of cell-mediated immunity. The delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to dinitrofluorobenzene, sheep red blood cells and D. immitis antigens were normal but the response to B. malayi antigens was significantly depressed, confirming that long-term B. malayi infection depresses cell-mediated immunity and that this depression is specific to B. malayi antigens.

Animals↗

Studies on the mechanism of long term survival of Taenia taeniaeformis in rats.

An attempt was made to determine if blocking antibody is involved in protecting cysticerci of Taenia taeniaeformis against a host immune response. Immunoflourescence microscopy confirmed that host antibody is presnet on the parasite surface within the capsule. To test if the larvae can still survive after such a coat of blocking antibody is removed, the larvae were trysinised and then implanted into recipients. The results indicate that blocking antibody could be involved in the survival of 1 year old established larvae. Untrypsinised larvae were normal 14 days after implantation into control or immunised rats. Trypsinised larvae implanted in control rats were alive but showed on intense cell adherence on their surface. On the other hand, trypsinised larvae implanted into immunised rats were dead and completely encapsulated. However, experiments with 1 month old larvae were inconclusive.

Animals↗

Studies on humoral immunity against Taenia taeniaeformis infection in rats.

Rats were infected with doses of 100, 1000, 5000 and 10 000 eggs of Taenia taeniaeformis. Haemagglutinating antibody to cysticerus antigen was detected at the 4th week of infection. The appearance and levels of antibody titre did not vary greatly with the infective dose. An IgM peak appeared at the 6th week, with IgG appearing slightly later and continuing to rise. Transfer of serum from the 1st week onwards from infections with 1000 eggs however could confer significant protection. Dilutions of hyperimmune serum (1 ml volumes) of up to 1/32 conferred significant protection on normal recipients. Hyperimmune serum transferred up to 4 days before challenge could confer 80% protection whereas serum transferred 4 days after challenge was totally non-protective. The significance of this finding is discussed in the light of current knowledge of metacestode immunity.

Animals↗

Immunity in taeniasis-cysticercosis I. Vaccination against Taenia taeniaeformis in rats using purified antigen.

Artificial immunization of rats against Taenia taeniaeformis was studied using somatic antigen (Som-Ag) and excretory-secretory antigen (ES-Ag). It was found that both Som-Ag and ES-Ag stimulated immediate-type hypersensitivity and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions of similar levels. Antibody levels rose from the 2nd wk and peaked around the 6th and 7th wk. Both IgM and IgG were detectable from the 2nd wk onwards, with IgG at a considerably higher level compared to IgM. It terms of protection, 90-100% reduction in cyst counts were detected if the rats were challenged 10 days or more after immunization. In all cases, no significant difference was observed between immunization with either Som-Ag or ES-Ag were purified and characterized using Sephadex G-200 chromatography, double immunodiffusion, and disk acrylamide gel electrophoresis. A purified antigen (mol wt, 140,000 daltons) was obtained, and highly significant protection against infection resulted with injections of 50, 10, or 1 mug doses of this antigen with complete Freund's adjuvant.

Animals↗

The role of cell-mediated immunity in Taenia taeniaeformis infections.

A functional cell mediated immunity (CMI) response was recorded in rats experimentally infected with Taenia taeniaeformis larvae. The presence of CMI was manifested in the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction recorded between 12 hours and 24 hours on elicitation with antigen. The time course of the immediate type hypersensitivity (ITH) over 10 weeks showed 2 peaks around the 2nd and the 6th weeks of infection, whereas the DTH response was generally weaker and more uniform over the same time course. Transfer of peritoneal cells from infected rats conferred partial protection to normal recipient rats against a challenge infection. However, optimal protection was only about 50% with transfer of 0.625 X 10(7) cells/rat, and no increase in protection was possible even with transfer of higher cell concentrations.

Animals↗