The effect of diethylcarbamazine on the in vitro serum-mediated adherence of feline granulocytes to microfilariae of Brugia pahangi
Johnson, P.; Mackenzie, C.D.; Denham, D.A.; Suswillo, R.R.
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Official Organ of Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft and of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit 39(4): 291-294
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0177-2392 PMID: 3227233 Document Number: 319395
The effect of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) on immunologically mediated destruction of the microfilariae (mf) of B. pahangi in vitro was assessed by studying the drug's influence on the granulocyte adherence to the surface of mf and the subsequent death of the parasites. DEC enhanced the adherence of cat blood-derived granulocytes to the surface of mf through the mediation of cuticle directed antibodies but not that mediated by complement alone; the parasites became immobilized and degenerated after cell adherence. The rate of cell adherence in the antibody-containing cultures was enhanced by DEC. As previously reported, the drug had no direct effect on the viability of the parasites. Preincubation of the cells in DEC had a greater effect on cell adherence than did preincubation of the parasites in the drug, thus supporting the contention that this antifilarial compound may act on host components.