Association of HLA class I antigens (A1, B5, B8 and CW2) with disease manifestations and infection in human schistosomiasis mansoni in Egypt.

The present study was designed to examine the possible association of HLA antigens and schistosomal hepatosplenomegaly and colonic polyposis in a large number of patients and controls. The results show that hepatosplenomegaly was significantly associated with the presence of two HLA antigens: HLA-A1 and B5; and colonic polyposis to HLA-B5 and B8. Furthermore, asymptomatic infection was significantly seen more in subjects with CW2. These results point to possible gentic factors controlling the pathogenesis of disease and susceptibility to infection in human schistosomiasis.