title: Detection of antibodies against Fasciola hepatica in cirrhotic patients from Peru.
abstract: The prevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection, in endemic countries, in patients with established cirrhosis is unknown. We hypothesized that, in endemic countries, the presence of fascioliasis may be detected in a serum pool of cirrhotic patients. Forty-four previously stored serum samples of patients with established liver cirrhosis, in the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, were collected from 1998 to 2003 and assessed for hepatitis B, C and fascioliasis antibodies (Fas2 ELISA). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was positive in 8.8% (n = 34), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in 32.5% (n = 34), hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) in 9.1% (n = 33), and 9.1% (n = 44) were Fas2 ELISA positive. This disease is an example of an emerging tropical infection which can be present in chronic liver diseases, requiring greater clinician awareness especially in endemic rural areas. Further clinical studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt (IMTAvH), Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima, Peru. Luis.A.Marcos@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bussalleu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Espinoza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000276:immunology*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C507847:Fas2 antigen, Fasciola hepatica