Serological validation of an alveolar echinococcosis rat model with a singlehepatic lesion

[摘要] Serology is important for the diagnosis and follow-up of human alveolar echinococcosis(AE). However, patient conditions are highly variable among those with AE, and antibodyresponses in serological follow-up have not been well-defined. We recently described a newAE rat model established by implantation of small AE tissue into a single arbitrarylocation in the liver; no metastasis and dissemination were observed. In the presentstudy, we examined the serological characteristics in our rat model before and aftersurgical treatment. The results showed that antibody responses against crude antigens wereincreased at one month after transplantation and similar to those of other model animals.For the antigen Em18, antibody responses were slower in our rat model than in other animalmodels. After surgical resection, changes in antibody responses against Em18 were similarto those observed in human patients with AE. Because of the slow growth of lesions,establishment of a single hepatic lesion and patterns of antibody responses, our rat modelmay be useful for clarifying follow-up serodiagnoses in human AE and determining themechanisms of multi-organ involvement by primary infection with oncospheres rather thanmetastasis.

[学科分类] 兽医学

[关键词] Echinococcus multilocularis;Em18;rat model;serology