title: Immune responsiveness and parasite-specific antibody levels in human hepatobiliary disease associated with Opisthorchis viverrini infection.
abstract: Opisthorchis viverrini infection is associated with human hepatobiliary disease and cholangiocarcinoma, but the role of the immune response in the pathogenesis of infection is unclear. Here ultrasonography was used to examine the biliary tracts of residents from an endemic community. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to unrelated antigens, and fluke-specific IgG and IgA levels in serum of this group were also examined. Relationships between immunological parameters, intensity of infection and radiologically measured variables are reported. Immune responsiveness to unrelated antigens did not vary with intensity of parasite infection or disease status. Of all the variables, IgG levels were most markedly elevated in disease cases compared with normal subjects and were closely associated with gall bladder size and dysfunction. This is consistent with the hypothesis that an immunopathologic mechanism is involved in opisthorchiasis and suggests that antibody levels may be useful in screening populations for fluke-associated hepatobiliary disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Haswell-Elkins
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sithithaworn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mairiang
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Elkins
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wongratanacheewin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaewkes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mairiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009889:Opisthorchiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D009891:Opisthorchis / Q000276:immunology*; D009929:Organ Size; D012882:Skin Tests; D014200:Trematoda / Q000276:immunology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G