Objective: To investigat the association of HLA-DRB1 alleles and the susceptibility to alveolar echinococcosis (AE).
Methods: Thirty-five patients with AE in the high prevalence areas in the west of China were investigated for HLA-DRB1 gene by PCR/SSP technique. The results were compared with 104 normal healthy peoples.
Results: Frequency of HLA-DRB1 * 040x was 26% in patient group, which was significantly higher than in control group (9.62%), with a relative risk (RR) of 4.45 (chi(2) = 13.67, P < 0.01), and with an etiological fraction of 0.20. Frequency of HLA-DRB1 * 0701 allele was decreased in patient group (patient 2.86%, control 13.94%; chi(2) = 6.67, P < 0.05), with preventable fraction of 0.30. While the frequencies of other DRB1 alleles were not significantly different.
Conclusion: Susceptibility to AE is strongly associated with the HLA-DRB1 * 040x allele. The high prevalence of human AE in this region was associated with genetic factor. HLA-DRB1 * 0701 geners resistant to Echinococcus multilocularis metacestode infection.