Prevalence and Clinical Relevance of <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> Co-Infection with <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Tuberculosis disease stands for the second leading cause of death worldwide after COVID-19, most active tuberculosis cases result from the reactivation of latent TB infection through impairment of immune response. Several factors are known to sustain that process. Schistosoma mansoni, a parasite of the helminth genus that possesses switching power from an immune profile type Th1 to Th2 that favors reactivation of latent TB bacteria. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of the co-infection between the two endemic infections. Systematic literature was contacted at the University Clinical Research Center at the University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako in Mali. Original articles were included, and full texts were reviewed to assess the prevalence and better understand the immunological changes that occur during the co-infection. In total, 3530 original articles were retrieved through database search, 53 were included in the qualitative analysis, and data from 10 were included in the meta-analysis. Prevalence of the co-infection ranged from 4% to 34% in the literature. Most of the articles reported that immunity against infection with helminth parasite and more specifically Schistosoma mansoni infection enhances latent TB reactivation through Th1/Th2. In sum, the impact of Schistosoma mansoni co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is under-investigated.

Pancreatic tuberculosis in a liver transplant recipient: a case report

“…As far as we know, this is the first description of Schistosoma mansoni co-infection with TB located specifically in the pancreas. However, other co-infections have been previously reported in cohort and case-control studies conducted in the Sub-Saharan Africa, with rates ranging from 4.3% to 34% 9 . Co-infection is significant since Schistosoma mansoni can weaken the host’s immune response to latent TB, potentially resulting in its reactivation 9 .…”

“…However, other co-infections have been previously reported in cohort and case-control studies conducted in the Sub-Saharan Africa, with rates ranging from 4.3% to 34% 9 . Co-infection is significant since Schistosoma mansoni can weaken the host's immune response to latent TB, potentially resulting in its reactivation 9 . This may have played a role in our patient's disease onset.…”