HMGCS2 and Decreased liver function: As shown in Figure 5A, expression of some of the hepatopathy-related genes were elevated such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), adiponectin receptor 1b (adipor1b), heparanase, TGF-β, PDGF-α, HMG-CoA synthase (HMGS), HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) and branched-chain acyl-CoA oxidase (BOX), indicating a risk of developing fatty liver and liver fibrosis in the core-positive larvae.