Alveolar hydatid disease

About: Alveolar hydatid disease is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 171 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2993 citations. The topic is also known as: AHD & alveolar colloid of the liver.

Em18, a new serodiagnostic marker for differentiation of active and inactive cases of alveolar hydatid disease.

Abstract: We determined whether detection of antibody response against a newly detected epitope, designated Em18, among Echinococcus multilocularis antigens could be a reliable marker for differentiation of active cases of alveolar hydatid disease (AHD) from inactive cases. Fifteen Alaskan patients with either active or inactive lesions of AHD previously confirmed clinically, pathologically, and serologically by the Em2-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used for a blind test by Western blotting. Ten and five cases were considered to be active and inactive cases, respectively. One of the 10 cases classified serologically as active was judged to be inactive based on clinical and pathologic criteria; the patient had a recognizable parasitic lesion, and following short-term treatment with albendazole, a biopsy of the liver showed a degenerated lesion that did not grow in rodents. The five cases judged to be inactive included two confirmed inactive cases with cicatrized lesions and three active cases that showed the weakest values in the Em2-ELISA. The most predominant IgG subclass responding to Em18 was IgG4. In general, there were good correlations between 1) the antibody response against Em18 and the presence of active lesions and 2) the antibody response against Em18 and the Em2-ELISA values.

Serodiagnosis of alveolar hydatid disease by western blotting.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify species-specific protein components of Echinococcus multilocularis by Western blotting and establish a simple and highly sensitive method for differential serodiagnosis of alveolar hydatid disease (AHD) from cystic hydatid disease Using Western blotting analyses we demonstrated 2 previously undescribed, species-specific, antigenic components of protoscoleces of E multilocularis easily detectable with sera from active AHD patients exclusively The 18 kDa component was recognized by sera from all active AHD patients, whereas the 16 kDa antigen was characteristically detected by patients with advanced lesions The potential utility of these components for differential serodiagnosis of AHD is discussed

Risk Factors for Infection with Echinococcus multilocularis in Alaska

Abstract: We studied 19 Eskimo patients with alveolar hydatid disease from the northwestern coast of Alaska for risk factors for infection with Echinococcus multilocularis. Each case-patient was matched by age and sex with 2 unrelated controls who had no clinical or serologic evidence of infection with E. multilocularis and who resided in three villages endemic for alveolar hydatid disease. Behaviors thought to increase exposure to E. multilocularis and the chronologic occurrence of these behaviors in the participant's life were assessed by a standardized questionnaire. Case-patients were more likely than controls to have owned dogs for their entire lives (odds ratio 6.00, P < 0.05), tethered their dogs near the house (odds ratio 8.50, P < 0.05), and lived in houses built directly on the tundra rather than on gravel or a permanent foundation (odds ratio 11.00, P < 0.01). Case-patients were not more likely to have owned sled dogs, trapped or skinned foxes, or engaged in other outdoor activities away from home. These findings suggest that controlling the parasite in the domestic dog population, as well as controlling the dog population itself, are important aspects of preventing alveolar hydatid disease in the northwestern Native Alaskan population.

Alveolar Hydatid Disease

Abstract: The parasite Echinococcus multilocularis which causes alveolar hydatid disease is distinct in both larval form and host specificity from the more common E granulosus Surgical treatment of E multilocularis infestation is usually impossible The budding alveolar cysts infiltrate the liver diffusely rather than forming a solitary cyst as does E granulosus A case report of infestation by E multilocularis accompanies a brief review of the ecology of the parasite

Alveolar hydatid disease in Minnesota. First human case acquired in the contiguous United States.

Abstract: A 56-year-old woman from southwestern Minnesota underwent an extended left hepatic lobectomy to remove a large multinodular mass with a necrotic central cavity. The clinical, serological, and pathological findings led to the diagnosis of alveolar hydatid disease, and specific identification of Echinococcus multilocularis was achieved by growing mature larvas in voles inoculated intraperitoneally with tissue from the hepatic lesions. The patient probably acquired her infection some years previously from pet cats or dogs that had become infected by ingesting infected rodents. In North America E multilocularis is enzootic in the northern tundra zone of Alaska and Canada. Since 1964 the cestode has been recognized with increasing frequency in several north-central states, including Minnesota. The parasite may extend its range farther south, since suitable animal hosts occur throughout the United States. ( JAMA 241:904-907, 1979)