[Bancroft filariasis in Comores archipelago (immunologic study)].

An immunological study has complemented the epidemiological survey on Bancroft filariosis in the Mayotte island (Comores) carried out by BRUNHES et al., 1971. The search for antibodies to Dipatolonema viteae and Setaria labiotopapilosa was performed by means of electrophoresis and immunofluorescence in 87 individuals and 2 hydrocele fluids. Immunoelectrophoresis confirmed the high endemicity ratio: 57 o/o of the individuals presented 1 to 7 precipitating lines; with immunofluorescence 55 o/o of the subjects had a titer of 200 to 1.600. 46 to 50 o/o of the positivities were observed in people showing clinical symptoms without microfilaremia. On the other hand, 36 to 48 o/o of the proved filarian cases yielded negative results with immunofluorescence or electrophoresis. These figures emphasize the significance and insufficiencies of immunologic techniques for the diagnostic of bancroftoses. In spite of the frequency of certain well identified precipitating systems, an immunoelectrophoretic analysis did not allow to demonstrate a constant and characteristic scheme.