Immunosurveillance of alveolar echinococcosis by specific humoral and cellular immune tests: long-term analysis of the Swiss chemotherapy trial (1976-2001).

Background/aims: Long-term chemotherapy with benzimidazoles is beneficial in non-resectable alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Criteria to track early therapeutic efficacy are lacking and the clinical impact of immunosurveillance is unsettled. We aimed to analyze this issue particularly for assessing the putative parasitocidal efficacy of chemotherapy.