SUMMARYTo clarify the role of Th1-and Th2-type cytokines in the various outcomes of human alveolar echinococcosis (AE), the cytokine immune response of self-cured patients was studied and compared with those of progressive AE patients and healthy subjects. Self-cured patients were divided into two groups according to the following clinical features: subjects who had positive Echinococcus multilocularis serologies and hepatic calcifications typical of AE were classified as`abortive AE' patients, and those who had positive E. multilocularis serologies but no hepatic lesions or calcifications detectable by ultrasonography were classified as`positive serology' subjects. Secretions of IL-5, IL-10 and interferon-gamma, and expression of IL-5 mRNA were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated in vitro with the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin-C or specific E. multilocularis antigenic preparations. The cytokine profile of abortive AE patients was the opposite of that observed in progressive AE patients. An intermediate profile was observed in positive serology subjects. PBMC from abortive AE patients, whether non-stimulated or stimulated with PHA and antigenic preparations, secreted significantly lower levels of IL-10 than those isolated from progressive AE patients. Our observations seem to confirm the regulatory role of IL-10 in the immunopathology of human AE.

Tigris ID-NAT format was significantly more sensitive than cobas s 201 MP-NAT in detecting HCV RNA and HIV RNA dilution panels, but despite the 1:6 dilution factor in s 201 the difference in sensitivity was not significant for some of the HBV genotype panels. Both NAT systems demonstrated acceptable operational performance, but for routine use further improvement in system reliability is desirable.

Tigris ID-NAT detected HIV RNA 2 days earlier than s 201 MP6-NAT, but the difference in sensitivity between the two NAT systems was not significant in HBV seroconversion panels. Insufficient seroconversion samples were available for reliable modeling of WPRT in early HCV infection, but 1.4 to 2.0 days could be predicted by translating analytical sensitivity data. Both multiplex NAT systems demonstrate significant WPRTs compared to (combined) antigen and antibody assays.