Enteroparasite and vivax malaria co-infection on the Brazil-French Guiana border: Epidemiological, haematological and immunological aspects

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 2;13(1):e0189958. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189958. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Malaria-enteroparasitic co-infections are known for their endemicity. Although they are prevalent, little is known about their epidemiology and effect on the immune response. This study evaluated the effect of enteroparasite co-infections with malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax in a border area between Brazil and French Guiana. The cross sectional study took place in Oiapoque, a municipality of Amapá, on the Amazon border. Malaria was diagnosed using thick blood smears, haemoglobin dosage by an automated method and coproparasitology by the Hoffman and Faust methods. The anti-PvMSP-119 IgG antibodies in the plasma were evaluated using ELISA and Th1 (IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2), and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10) cytokine counts were performed by flow cytometry. The participants were grouped into those that were monoinfected with vivax malaria (M), vivax malaria-enteroparasite co-infected (CI), monoinfected with enteroparasite (E) and endemic controls (EC), who were negative for both diseases. 441 individuals were included and grouped according to their infection status: [M 6.9% (30/441)], [Cl 26.5% (117/441)], [E 32.4% (143/441)] and [EC 34.2% (151/441)]. Males prevailed among the (M) 77% (23/30) and (CI) 60% (70/117) groups. There was a difference in haemoglobin levels among the different groups under study for [EC-E], [EC-Cl], [E-M] and [Cl-M], with (p < 0.01). Anaemia was expressed as a percentage between individuals [CI-EC (p < 0.05)]. In terms of parasitaemia, there were differences for the groups [CI-M (p < 0.05)]. Anti-PvMSP-119 antibodies were detected in 51.2% (226/441) of the population. The level of cytokines evaluation revealed a large variation in TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations in the co-infected group. In this study we did not observe any influence of coinfection on the acquisition of IgG antibodies against PvMSP119, as well as on the profile of the cytokines that characterize the Th1 and Th2 patterns. However, co-infection increased TNF-α and IL-10 levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • French Guiana / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Malaria, Vivax / blood
  • Malaria, Vivax / complications
  • Malaria, Vivax / epidemiology*
  • Parasitic Diseases / blood
  • Parasitic Diseases / complications
  • Parasitic Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Protozoan Proteins

Grants and funding

The Project obtained financial assistance from the following institutions with the responsibility of the respective researchers: Supported by the Research Program for the Unified Health System (PPSUS): Shared Health Management, PPSUS, Amapá Research Support Foundation Amapá State Support Support Foundation (Public Invitation for Promotion of Research 001/2013 EPF 00007631) With resources for the support in the Collection and laboratory analyzes, under the responsibility of the researcher Margarete do Socorro Mendonça Gomes; Supported by the laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology of the Federal University of Pará in the immunological analyzes of PvMSP119, under the responsibility of the researcher Maristela Gomes Cunha; Supported by the Immunogenetic / Parasitology Malaria Laboratory of the Evandro Chagas Institute for the analysis of cytokines under the responsibility of the researcher Ricardo Luiz Dantas Machado; Supported by the Postgraduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents of the Federal University of Pará for logistical support and general support under the responsibility of the researcher Adriano Penha Furtado. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.