Relationship among presence of antibodies against ascaris suum, eosinophilia and autoantibodies (igm-rf)

The possible association among the pres¬ence of IgG antibodies against the parasitic helminth Ascaris suum, eosinophilia, and that of IgM-rheumatoid factors (IgM-RF) was analyzed in blood samples from 1264 persons. Three groups according to the val¬ues of eosinophils were considered, normal (G-C, <0.5 109 l-1), eosinophilic (G-I, 0.5-3 109 l-1) and hypereosinophilic (G-II, >3 109 l-1). The detection of IgG antibodies was done by using a modified enzyme-linked im¬munosorbent assay (ELISA) with A. suum excretory/secretory antigens, and IgM-RF autoantibodies by a latex agglutination test. Forty-one percent of the cases were positive to ascariosis and 15% had IgM-RF autoan- tibodies. The greatest values were reached in women from rural areas. The highest per¬centages of eosinophilic patients were found in men from rural areas. A positive and significant association between eosinophilia and IgM-RF autoantibodies was observed. We concluded that people living in rural re¬gions have a higher risk for developing IgG antibodies against A. suum..