Clinical characteristics and antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus recombinant antigen P29 in patients with cystic echinococcosis in China

OBJECTIVES: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected parasitic zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus). This study aimed to understand the clinical characteristics of human CE in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR) located in northwest China and to investigate the antibody profiles against the recombinant E. granulosus antigen P29 (rEg.P29) in plasma of CE patients. METHODS: A total of 37 human CE patients, along with 37 healthy donors enrolled in this study and demographic and clinical data were analyzed, including age, gender, laboratory data, symptoms, and cysts description. Plasma levels of cytokines, total IgG, and total IgE were determined by sandwich ELISA kits. Specific antibodies against rEg.P29 and hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) were assessed by indirect ELISA. RESULTS: The results revealed that females have a higher percentage of CE patients than males. The incidence of CE reached a peak in the 41–50 years-old group. The liver was the most frequent location, accounting for 91.9%. Based on the CT images, cysts of 34 patients who had liver involvement, were classified as 1 (2.9%) CE1, 12 (35.3%) CE2, 5 (14.7%) CE3a, 1 (2.9%) CE3b, and 15 (44.2%) CE5. Twenty-nine (78.4%) patients had a single cyst and 8 (21.6%) had at least two cysts. The most frequently reported symptom was upper abdominal pain. The plasma level of IL-6 and total IgE were significantly increased in CE patients compared with healthy donors. Additionally, IgG response to rEg.P29 in CE patients was significantly higher than in healthy donors, and the dominant IgG subclass was IgG4. Further analysis of different patient groups revealed that rEg.P29-specific IgG and IgG4 were only elevated in CE patients with CE2 type cysts. CONCLUSIONS: This study systematically investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with CE and may provide a reference basis for the diagnosis and treatment of CE in NHAR. Furthermore, tests of specific IgG and IgG4 against rEg.P29 can be used as an assisted method for imaging techniques to identify cystic activity and determine the best therapeutic approach for CE.