HLA AND SCHISTOSOMIASIS JAPONICA

The frequency of HLA antigens was studied in 30 advanced cases and 30 early chronic cases of schistosomiasis japonica, and was compared with that in the healthy controls. The study showed that HLA-A1 813 were closely associated with the advanced cases (X2=36.90, CP=1.631×10-10; X2=3.39, CP=0.00898, respectively) and the frequency of HLA-B8 was comparatively higher in the early cases, but the difference was not statistically significant. This finding indicates that the involvement of immunogenetic factors is possibly related with the development of the advanced-stage schistosomiasis japonica.