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Effects of helminth co-infections on atopy, asthma and cytokine production in children living in a poor urban area in Latin America.
- Source :
-
BMC research notes [BMC Res Notes] 2014 Nov 19; Vol. 7, pp. 817. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Nov 19. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Background: Helminths are modulators of the host immune system, and infections with these parasites have been associated with protection against allergies and autoimmune diseases. The human host is often infected with multiple helminth parasites and most studies to date have investigated the effects of helminths in the context of infections with single parasite or types of parasites (e.g. geohelminths). In this study, we investigated how co-infections with three nematodes affect markers of allergic inflammation and asthma in children. We selected Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, two parasites that inhabit the human intestine and Toxocara spp (Toxocara canis and/or T. cati), intestinal roundworms of dogs and cats that cause systemic larval infection in humans. These parasites were selected as the most prevalent helminth parasites in our study population.<br />Results: 36.4% of children were infected with one parasite; 12.7% with 2 and 5.2% with 3. Eosinophilia>4% and >10% was present in 74.3% and 25.5% of the children, respectively. Total IgE>200 IU/mL, sIgE≥0.70 kU/L and SPT positivity were present in 59.7%, 37.1% and 30% of the children, respectively. 22.7% had recent asthma (12.0% non-atopic and 10.7% atopic). Helminth infections were associated in a dose-dependent way to decrease in the prevalence of SPT and increase in eosinophilia, total IgE, and the production of the regulatory cytokine IL-10 by unstimulated peripheral blood leukocytes. No association with asthma was observed.<br />Conclusions: Helminth co-infections in this population were associated with increased markers of the Th2 immune response, and with a host immune regulatory phenotype that may suppress allergic effector responses such as immediate hypersensitivity reactions in the skin.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Asthma blood
Asthma parasitology
Biomarkers metabolism
Child
Child, Preschool
Coinfection blood
Coinfection parasitology
Cytokines biosynthesis
Dermatitis, Atopic blood
Dermatitis, Atopic parasitology
Eosinophilia blood
Eosinophilia complications
Female
Helminthiasis blood
Helminthiasis complications
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Immediate complications
Hypersensitivity, Immediate immunology
Immunoglobulin E blood
Latin America
Leukocytes, Mononuclear metabolism
Male
Models, Biological
Parasites physiology
Skin Tests
Asthma complications
Cities
Coinfection complications
Cytokines blood
Dermatitis, Atopic complications
Helminths physiology
Poverty
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1756-0500
- Volume :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC research notes
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25410903
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-817