Familial analysis of eosinophilia caused by helminthic parasites.

A highly significant familial aggregation of eosinophil levels (X2(3) = 38.00) was detected in a sample from three Brazilian populations with a high incidence of helminthic parasitism. The data were unable to resolve genetic or common environment causation due to the lack of environmental concomitant variables. Results of path analysis indicate that the familial cause accounts for about 58% of the total variability of eosinophil levels among parasite-infected individuals.