Alterations in interferon-gamma and nitric oxide levels in human echinococcosis.

Human cystic hydatid disease is characterized by the long-term coexistence of Echinococcus granulosus and its host without effective rejection of the parasite. This parasitic helminth infection currently constitutes a major health problem in Algeria. We investigated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and nitrite (NO2-) production in PBMC culture 2 supernatants from Algerian patients (n = 35), stimulated by a major antigen (antigen 5).