IMMUNOPATHOLOGY OF ALVEOLAR ECHINOCOCCOSIS

The pathogenesis of alveolar echonococcosis caused by the metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis is a. process involving the host-parasi te interface with both local and distant systemic effects. The surviva l strategy of the parasite is to continuously subvert the host defense s just as the host responds to contain the infection. There is a compl ex of signal molecules mediating between parasite-elaborated factors a nd specific and non specific cellular immune responses behind the gros s pathological picture of a space-occupying lesion. This paper attempt s to summarize the relationship of experimental findings with the clin icopathological picture by outlining pathways that may be involved in the process of pathogenesis.