Factors Influencing the Serological Response in Hepatic Echinococcus granulosus Infection.
Knowledge of variables influencing serology is crucial to evaluate serology results for the diagnosis and clinical management of cystic echinococcosis (CE). We analyzed retrospectively a cohort of patients with hepatic CE followed in our clinic in 2000-2012 to evaluate the influence of several variables on the results of commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect hemagglutination (IHA) tests. Sera from 171 patients with ≥ 1 hepatic CE cyst, and 90 patients with nonparasitic cysts were analyzed. CE cysts were staged according to the WHO-IWGE classification and grouped by activity. A significant difference in ELISA optical density (OD) values and percentage of positivity was found among CE activity groups and with controls (P < 0.001). The serological response was also influenced by age (P < 0.001) and cyst number (P = 0.003). OD values and cyst size were positively correlated in active cysts (P = 0.001). IHA test showed comparable results. When we analyzed the results of 151 patients followed over time, we found that serology results were significantly influenced by cyst activity, size, number, and treatment ≤ 12 months before serum collection. In conclusion, serological responses as assessed by commercial tests depend on CE cyst activity, size and number, and time from treatment. Clinical studies and clinicians in their practice should take this into account.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Raffaella
R
Lissandrin
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy f_tamarozzi@yahoo.com.
Francesca
F
Tamarozzi
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Luca
L
Piccoli
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Carmine
C
Tinelli
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Annalisa
A
De Silvestri
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Mara
M
Mariconti
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Valeria
V
Meroni
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Francesca
F
Genco
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Cystic Echinococcosis, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Enrico
E
Brunetti
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000871:Anthelmintics