In contrast to the significant relationship between CD16 and infection status shown here, we found no relationship between infection intensity and either CD14 or CD16 expression (data not shown), indicating that it was the presence of infection in the host that was important in this relationship rather than the burden of infection, a pattern that has been demonstrated in other immunological and pathological features of human schistosomiasis [49], [55]. The gene discussed is FCGR3A; the disease is infection.