title: Increased anti-Echinococcus granulosus antibody positivity in Fasciola hepatica infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Parasitic helminths express some antigen, which often accounts for serological cross-reactions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-Echinococcus granulosus antibody in patients with Fasciola hepatica infection using indirect immunofluorescence assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of the following groups: Fasciola hepatica group (n=22), hydatid disease group (n=22) and healthy control group (n=24). Indirect immunofluorescence assay for Echinococcus granulosus was performed in all groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indirect immunofluorescence assay was positive in all patients with hydatid disease, in 13 of 22 (59%) patients with fascioliasis and in 2 of 24 (8%) healthy subjects. The positivity rate of indirect immunofluorescence assay was significantly higher in the hydatid disease group compared to the fascioliasis group (p<0.001) and compared to the control group (p<0.001), and it was significantly higher in the fascioliasis group compared to the control group (p=0.001). Antibody titer was 1/100 in 7 patients, 1/320 in 12 patients and 1/1000 in 3 patients with hydatid disease. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was positive in 10 of 15 patients with hepatic phase and in 3 of 7 patients with biliary phase of fascioliasis. The antibody titer was 1/100 in 6 and 1/320 in 7 patients with fascioliasis. The antibody titer was 1/100 in both healthy subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indirect immunofluorescence assay for Echinococcus granulosus may be positive in a majority of patients with Fasciola hepatica infection and in some healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Dicle University School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Diyarbakır, Turkey. muhsinkaya20@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Muhsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Remzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beştaş
authors.forename: Sadullah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gırgın
authors.forename: Muttalip
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çıçek
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000276:immunology*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000276:immunology*; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000276:immunology*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth