Schistosomiasis co-infection in humans influences inflammatory markers in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Parasite Immunol. 2004 Aug-Sep;26(8-9):365-9. doi: 10.1111/j.0141-9838.2004.00719.x.

Abstract

Malaria and schistosomiasis are the two major parasite diseases present in developing countries. The epidemiological co-infection with schistosomiasis could influence the development of the physiological reaction associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection in human. Most studies have demonstrated the association of circulating levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha), interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) and soluble Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptors (sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII) with the morbidity of malaria. In the present study, we showed that Schistosoma haematobium co-infection influences, in an age-dependent manner, the unbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory circulating cytokines that play a key role during malaria infection. Indeed, children co-infected by S. haematobium have higher levels of IFN-gamma and sTNF-RII than children infected only by P. falciparum. In contrast, co-infected adults presented a significant increase of IFN-gamma, IL-10, TGF-beta, sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII rates and IL-10/TNF-alpha ratio. Taken together, this study indicates that schistosomiasis co-infection can unbalance the regulation of inflammatory factors in uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. The possible consequences of the schistosomiasis co-infection for age-dependent malaria morbidity are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / complications*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / immunology
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Parasitemia / epidemiology
  • Parasitemia / immunology
  • Parasitemia / parasitology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Schistosoma haematobium / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / complications*
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / epidemiology
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / immunology
  • Senegal / epidemiology
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Substances

  • Cytokines