[Proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes in relation to the rate of infestation in patients with opisthorchiasis].

The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the proliferative function of mononuclear cells after stimulation with antigens or mitogens in patients with varying rates of chronic mixed infestation with Opisthorchis and Metorchis. The proliferative response of mononuclear cells to specific parasitic antigens in patients with opisthorchiasis of high infestation rates was ascertained to be considerably suppressed as compared with that of these cells in patients with low infestation rates. In addition, severe mixed infestation was attended by a suppressed lymphoproliferative response not only to specific helminth antigens, but also to nonspecific mitogen and mycobacterial antigen.