Hypersensitivity to Anisakis simplex is a worldwide medical problem. IgE sensitization to this parasite should be suspected in patients with acute allergic symptoms after ingestion of fish. The aim of this study was to detect the immunological response in experimental mice, through measurement of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in their lymphocytes by flow cytometry, following the ingestion of Anisakis simplex crude antigen. Sixty Swiss albino mice were divided into non infected control and infected experimental groups which were further subdivided into five subgroups. The percentage of IgE antibodies was measured in the lymphocytes of their splenic suspensions at zero, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th weeks post inoculation using Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) anti – mouse IgE, and were analyzed on a FACS Calibur flow cytometer Becton Dickinson equipped with an argon-ion laser apparatus operating at 488 nm the percentage of IgE antibodies was enhanced in lymphocytes of animals exposed to Anisakis antigen from the first week, peaking three weeks following initial exposure, starting a decline by week five and decreased more by the seventh week, as compared to the control group the results obtained from this study proved the efficacy of flow cytometry in detecting the sensitization against Anisakis simplex through the measurement of IgE antibodies.
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