Circulating antibodies and antigens correlate with egg counts in human fascioliasis

We explored the relationships between specific IgG antibody levels and circulating E/S antigen to intensity of Fasciola infection in the human host. Twenty patients with patent infection and six healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Intensity of infection was determined by repeated egg counts in stools, while IgG antibodies against adult Fasciola gigantica somatic FI, FII and against E/S antigens were measured as ELISA O.D. readings. The level of circulating E/S antigens was determined by IELISA. Positivity as well as levels of antibodies and antigen correlated with infection intensity. These findings may disclose in the future a relation between morbidity in the acute phase and worm load.     

Short report: Immunodiagnosis of human fascioliasis using recombinant Fasciola hepatica cathepsin L1 cysteine proteinase.

Our laboratory recently developed a diagnostic test (ELISA) for human fascioliasis based on the detection of serum IgG4 antibodies reactive with Fasciola hepatica cathepsin L1 (CL1). In the present study, we have used recombinant CL1, generated by functional expression of the cDNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in this immunodiagnostic test and compared its performance with native CL1. Sera obtained from 64 individuals living in Cutusuma village in the northern Altiplano of Bolivia, a region with a high prevalence of human fascioliasis, were analyzed by the IgG4-ELISA. A highly statistically significant correlation (r2 = 0.751, P < 0.001) was demonstrated between the absorbances obtained using the recombinant and native proteins. These assays showed that 38 (59%) of the individuals tested were seropositive for fascioliasis, whereas only 26 of them were coprologically positive for F. hepatica eggs. All seronegative patients were also coprologically negative. Serum from individuals infected with schistosomiasis mansoni, cysticercosis, hydatidosis, and Chagas disease did not contain antibodies reactive with the recombinant or native CL1. Therefore, recombinant CL1 shows excellent potential for the development of the first standardized assay for the sensitive and specific diagnosis of human fascioliasis. Finally, our data supports earlier reports on the high prevalence of human fascioliasis in the Bolivian Altiplano, which collectively suggest that the disease has been endemic there for more than a decade.     

人肝片形吸虫病1例报告

<正>1临床资料患者,女,41岁,因肝区胀痛2个月余入院。2个月前无诱因出现肝区胀痛,伴发热(体温最高38℃),当地医院予抗感染后疼痛症状缓解,体温下降,但此后症状时有反复发作。入院1 d前当地医院腹部CT平扫提示肝左叶低密度灶。转本院,入院时查体:无肝掌、蜘蛛痣,皮肤巩膜无黄染,心肺听诊无异常,腹平软,无压痛及反跳痛,肝脾肋下未及,肝区叩痛阳性,     

肝片吸虫病误诊一例报告

患者男性 ,13岁 ,福建省长乐市营前镇人。因反复发热 1月余 ,伴右上腹痛 ,超声显像示 :肝右叶多发性肝脓疡 ,当地医院按阿米巴治疗无效 ,于 2 0 0 0年 8月 6日入上海某医院治疗。入院检查 :体温 39℃ ,神志清 ,皮肤、巩膜无黄染 ,两肺呼吸音清晰 ,心律 10 2次 /ｍｉｎ ,律齐 ,腹软 ,肝肋下 2 .5ｃｍ ,剑突下 4ｃｍ ,肝区有叩痛 ,脾肋下未及。双下肢无浮肿 ,神经系统检查未见异常。超声显像示 :肝脾肿大 ,肝内有多发性占位性病变 ,示肝脓疡。血常规 :ＷＢＣ 6 .8× 10 9/Ｌ ,其中嗜酸性粒细胞 (ＥＯＳ)占 39% ,ＲＢＣ 3.38× 10 12 /Ｌ ,Ｈｂ…     

Circulating immune complexes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

EDTA plasma samples from 13 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were fractionated on Sephadex G-200 and the quantities of C3 and IgG within the first protein peak determined by a sensitive haemagglutination-inhibition assay. Seven patients with AS had G3 detectable in the first peak and this was associated with an increased concentration of IgG in the corresponding fraction. These 7 patients had more active disease but did not have more peripheral arthritis. Our results indicate that circulating immune complexes capable of initiating complement activation are present in the circulation of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.     

Fasciola hepatica in capybara

The purpose of this report was to register the presence of Fasciola hepatica in an adult female capybara (Hydrocherus hydrocheris). The macro and microscopical characteristics of hepatic lesions, together with the finding of F. hepatica in mature forms indicate the possible infection of capybara by the trematode.     

Human fascioliasis caused by F. hepatica

The paper deals with the possibility of invasion and parasitizing of Fasciola hepatica in man. Data of observations and references are presented.     

The immune response of various species to Fasciola hepatica infection

The trematode F. hepatica is an internal parasite of many species of animals including men. In ruminants, fasciolosis is an economically important disease often resulting in a chronic and sub-clinical infection. The mechanisms of immune responses of final hosts to this infection are still poorly understood. Experimental and clinical studies reported so far suggest that both humoral and cellular effectors of the immune response are important to control the duration of F. hepatica infection. However, there are considerable variation both inter-species and between various strains of the same species in regulation of the response as well as abilities to develop resistance to subsequent infections.     

Circulating immune complexes in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

Circulating immune complexes were found in 15 of 16 patients with fulminant hepatic failure due to viral hepatitis and all of six patients who had had halothane anaesthesia; however, they were found in only five of 32 patients with paracetamol-induced hepatic necrosis. The levels of circulating immune complexes were not related to the severity of the clinical course, development of renal failure, final outcome, or severity of hypocomplementaemia. All the patients had depressed reticuloendothelial function as assessed by the clearance of 125I microaggregated albumin. These findings show that circulating immune complexes in fulminant hepatic failure are not simply a reflection of an immune response to liver antigens released as a result of the hepatic necrosis; nor are they a reflection of the failure of the reticuloendothelial system. This supports the view that circulating immune complexes are associated with immune mediated liver injury and may contribute to the process.     

Circulating immune complexes in myelofibrosis

17 patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis were studied for the occurrence of circulating immune complexes (IC), using a polyethylene glycol complement consumption and a polyclonal rheumatoid factor inhibition assay. In 13 patients complement C3d was determined by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Circulating IC were detected in 6 patients and were primarily found in patients with short duration of disease from time of diagnosis. The median duration of the disease in IC-positive patients was 4 months, compared to 12 months in the IC-negative group (P less than 0.05). 9 of the 13 patients investigated had increased levels of plasma C3d. However, there was no correlation to the occurrence of IC. It is concluded that circulating IC may take part in an immune-mediated bone marrow damage. This may involve deposition of IC in the bone marrow with secondary inflammation responsible for the development of bone marrow fibrosis.     

Circulating immune complexes in pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma.

We analyzed serum from six patients with pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma for the presence of circulating immune complexes. These levels were correlated with the pulmonary histopathology and immunofluorescence findings. Levels of circulating immune complexes were elevated in five subjects. All of the subjects had an active cellular histology. Immunofluorescent studies showed granular deposits of IgG and complement (C3) in alveolar walls and blood vessels in all five patients. One subject had no detectable circulating immune complexes and showed a predominantly fibrotic pattern by light microscopy. In addition, immunofluorescence in this patient also showed no immunoglobulin or complement deposition within the lung tissue. These findings show that circulating immune complexlike activity is present in patients with cellular disease and suggest that their formation or deposition, or both, may contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma.