Cytokine Response in Mono and Malaria-S. mansoni Co-Infected Individuals in Fincha Sugar Estate, Western Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/ejhbs.v9i1.266Keywords:
co-infection, cytokine, Finchaa Sugar Estate, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium. vivax, Schistosoma mansoni, EthiopiaAbstract
Background: In Ethiopia, where malaria parasite and Schistosoma mansoni infections are coendemic, the general public is quite vulnerable to both malaria and S. mansoni infections singly and concomitantly. However, data about immunological effects are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the reciprocal effects of malaria- S. mansoni co-infections with a particular emphasis on immunological interactions.
Methods: A community-based cross sectional study was conducted in Finchaa Sugar Estate, western Ethiopia. Plasma was collected for cytokine assay and measurements of selected cytokines were performed using luminex IS 100 instrument. SPSS statistical software version 20 was used, and P-value <0.05 was reported as statistically significant.
Results: Of the three groups of infections (malaria, S. mansoni and malaria- Schistosoma mansoni co-infections), the levels of IL-10 and IL-4 were higher in co-infected individuals than in mono-infected ones.
Conclusion: This study showed that Plasmodium falciparum and S. mansoni co-infection reciprocally increase anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10). However, further studies are required to investigate how malaria and S.mansoni co-infections could reciprocally contribute to increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4.
