Immunological parameters associated with susceptibility or resistance to alveolar hydatid disease in Yupiks/Inupiats

Alveolar hydatid disease (AHD) is a serious and often fatal disease with a relatively high prevalence among the Alaska native Yupik/Inupiat population. In a few patients, however, a spontaneous cure of the disease has been shown by demonstrating the presence of dead metacestode lesions. The present study shows a comparative analysis of the humoral (antibody activity to two different antigens: Em2-antigen and recombinant II/3-10-antigen) immune response and a respective immunogenetic background (HLA-DR typing) in (i) "susceptible" patients who had a still active intrahepatic metacestode and (ii) "resistant" patients who were shown to be spontaneously cured by presenting dead and calcified lesions. Control groups included relatives who were genetically closely related and less related cohabitants of the same villages. Antibody levels in the Em2- and the II/3-10-ELISA were high for patients who had still active lesions and low (Em2-ELISA) or negative (II/3-10-ELISA) for cured patients with dead lesions. Comparative HLA-DR analyses between infected and non-infected Yupiks/Inupiats revealed a slight tendency for susceptibility markers respective to the HLA-DRB1*0901 and HLA-DRB1*1601,02 genes.