Immunobiology of cystic echinococcosis.
The present report focuses on the ability of cystic echinoccocosis metacestode to survive for a long time, despite host immunity, by developing avoidance strategies. The tactics believed to come into play, ranging from intrinsic parasitic factors to host-related mechanisms, are briefly discussed and the importance of studies on experimental models is highlighted particularly in relation to furthering the theoretical understanding of the dynamic equilibrium between host and parasite, and to the feasibility of practical approaches in controlling the disease by artificial manipulation of the immunoregulatory mechanisms.
Conchedda
M
M
Sezione di Parassitologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Applicate ai Biosistemi, University of Cagliari, Italy. parasit@vaxca1.unica.it
Gabriele
E
E
Bortoletti
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D003167:Complement Activation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010539:Permeability; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D009569:Nitric Oxide