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Analysis of mixture in the distributions of immunoglobulin levels in a chagasic population

Calógeras Antonio de Albergaria Barbosa

Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brasil

ABSTRACT

In a sample of three hundred individuals living in a Brazilian area where Chagas' disease is endemic, commingling in the distributions of IgA, IgG and IgM levels was investigated. Evidence of a mixture of two skewed components was found for IgG and IgM distributions due to a single gene effect or a discrete environmental event. One component was suggested for IgA distribution, which implies that both genetic and environmental determinants are multifatorial. The proportions of the upper components in the distributions of IgG and IgM levels were 0.31 and 0.12, respectively.

Keywords: inimunoglobulin; chagasic population.

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