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. 1980 Aug;29(2):401–407. doi: 10.1128/iai.29.2.401-407.1980

Immunity to pathogenic free-living amoebae: role of humoral antibody.

R T Cursons, T J Brown, E A Keys, K M Moriarty, D Till
PMCID: PMC551132  PMID: 7216418

Abstract

Pathogenic free-living amoebae are common in nature, but few clinical infections by these amoebae have been reported. This has prompted studies of host susceptibility factors in humans. A survey of normal human sera from three New Zealand Health Districts was made; antibodies to pathogenic free-living amoebae were found in all sera, with titers ranging from 1:5 to 1:20 for Naegleria spp. and from 1:20 to 1:80 for Acanthamoeba spp. The antibodies belonged mainly to immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M classes. The presence of a specific neutralizing factor against Acanthamoeba spp. but not Naegleria spp. was demonstrated. Possible protective mechanisms are discussed.

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Selected References

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