Human serum albumin and immunoglobulin on Dracunculus medinensis.

Dracunculus medinensis recovered from infected humans were examined for the occurrence and localization of human serum albumin and immunoglobulins. Immunoelectrophoretic examination of homogenates prepared from adult female worms (ADGW) and first stage larvae (LVGW) showed that anti-human albumin antibodies reacted to both stages of the parasite. By direct fluorescence antibody technique, antigens resembling human albumin and human immunoglobulins (isotype IgG) were identified on the surface of adult female worms. The occurrence of host-like compounds on the parasites may be an adaptation for survival of the parasites. A possible interference of these compounds should be considered in attempts to develop methods for immunological diagnosis of D. medinensis infections.