Schistosome: Its Benefit and Harm in Patients Suffering from Concomitant Diseases

Osada, Yoshio; Kanazawa, Tamotsu

doi:10.1155/2011/264173

Cited by 23 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…Within our study, we found that HCV patients with schistosoma co‐infection had significantly higher liver transaminases levels as well as elevated HCV‐RNA titres, indicating that concomitant schistosome infection indeed aggravates liver disease and inhibits virus elimination. As previous studies revealed that ALT and AST levels in endemic normals and S. mansoni ‐mono‐infected individuals were comparable (El‐Kady et al ., 2005), our current findings substantiate other studies performed in Egypt demonstrating aggravated liver disease and less controlled viral replication in schistosome‐co‐infected HCV patients . Viral clearance is known to correlate with strong and sustained virus‐specific CD4 + and CD8 + T‐cell responses during acute HBV infection , and chronicity develops in such individuals who fail to mount or sustain such responses .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Schistosome infection aggravates HCV‐related liver disease and induces changes in the regulatory T‐cell phenotype

Loffredo-Verde

Abdelaziz

Albrecht

et al. 2015

Parasite Immunology

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Schistosome infections are renowned for their ability to induce regulatory networks such as regulatory T cells (Treg) that control immune responses against homologous and heterologous antigens such as allergies. However, in the case of co-infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV), schistosomes accentuate disease progression and we hypothesized that expanding schistosome-induced Treg populations change their phenotype and could thereby suppress beneficial anti-HCV responses. We therefore analysed effector T cells and n/iTreg subsets applying the markers Granzyme B (GrzB) and Helios in Egyptian cohorts of HCV mono-infected (HCV), schistosome-co-infected (Sm/HCV) and infection-free individuals. Interestingly, viral load and liver transaminases were significantly elevated in Sm/HCV individuals when compared to HCV patients. Moreover, overall Treg frequencies and Helios(pos) Treg were not elevated in Sm/HCV individuals, but frequencies of GrzB(+) Treg were significantly increased. Simultaneously, GrzB(+) CD8(+) T cells were not suppressed in co-infected individuals. This study demonstrates that in Sm/HCV co-infected cohorts, liver disease is aggravated with enhanced virus replication and Treg do not expand but rather change their phenotype with GrzB possibly being a more reliable marker than Helios for iTreg. Therefore, curing concurrent schistosome disease could be an important prerequisite for successful HCV treatment as co-infected individuals respond poorly to interferon therapy.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Schistosome infection aggravates HCV‐related liver disease and induces changes in the regulatory T‐cell phenotype

Loffredo-Verde

Abdelaziz

Albrecht

et al. 2015

Parasite Immunology

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“…These suggest that helminth co-infection might thus impair the mechanisms necessary to control leishmaniasis. The current immunomodulatory explanation is in concurrence with observations in murine models, where co-infection of L. major and S. mansoni exacerbated lesion development compared to mice infected with L. major alone [22-24,35]. The action of helminth infection affecting the immune response of the host, may increase protozoan multiplication substantially thus enhancing leishmaniasis severity [23,24,26].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Combination therapy using Pentostam and Praziquantel improves lesion healing and parasite resolution in BALB/c mice co-infected with Leishmania major and Schistosoma mansoni

et al. 2013

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BackgroundMost natural host populations are exposed to a diversity of parasite communities and co-infection of hosts by multiple parasites is commonplace across a diverse range of systems. Co-infection with Leishmania major and Schistosoma mansoni may have important consequences for disease development, severity and transmission dynamics. Pentavalent antimonials and Praziquantel (PZQ) have been relied upon as a first line of treatment for Leishmania and Schistosoma infections respectively. However, it is not clear how combined therapy with the standard drugs will affect the host and parasite burden in concomitance. The aim of the current study was to determine the efficacy of combined chemotherapy using Pentostam and PZQ in BALB/c mice co-infected with L. major and S. mansoni.MethodsThe study used BALB/c mice infected with L. major and S. mansoni. A 3 × 4 factorial design with three parasite infection groups (Lm, Sm, Lm + Sm designated as groups infected with L. major, S. mansoni and L. major + S. mansoni, respectively) and four treatment regimens [P, PZQ, P + PZQ and PBS designating Pentostam®(GlaxoSmithKline UK), Praziquantel (Biltricide®, Bayer Ag. Leverkusen, Germany), Pentostam + Praziquantel and Phosphate buffered saline] as factors was applied. In each treatment group, there were 10 mice. Lesion development was monitored for 10 weeks. The parasite load, body weight, weight of the spleen and liver were determined between week 8 and week 10.ResultsChemotherapy using the first line of treatment for L. major and S. mansoni reduced the lesion size and parasite loads but did not affect the growth response, spleen and liver. In the co-infected BALB/c mice, the use of Pentostam or PZQ did not result in any appreciable disease management. However, treatment with P + PZQ resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) larger reduction of lesions, net increase in the body weight, no changes in the spleen and liver weight and reduced Leishman-Donovan Units (LDU) and worm counts than BALB/c mice treated with Pentostam or PZQ alone.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated that the combined first line of treatment is a more effective strategy in managing co-infection of L. major and S. mansoni in BALB/c mice.

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“…The current study is designed to determine if this situation influences standard adult immunizations in those who have or do not have S . mansoni infections at the time of their immunizations [7]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Schistosoma mansoni Infection Can Jeopardize the Duration of Protective Levels of Antibody Responses to Immunizations against Hepatitis B and Tetanus Toxoid

et al. 2016

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BackgroundSchistosomiasis is a disease of major public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa. Immunoregulation begins early in schistosome infection and is characterized by hyporesponsiveness to parasite and bystander antigens, suggesting that a schistosome infection at the time of immunization could negatively impact the induction of protective vaccine responses. This study examined whether having a Schistosoma mansoni infection at the time of immunization with hepatitis B and tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccines impacts an individual’s ability to achieve and maintain protective antibody levels against hepatitis B surface antigen or TT.MethodsAdults were recruited from Kisumu Polytechnic College in Western Kenya. At enrollment, participants were screened for schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STHs) and assigned to groups based on helminth status. The vaccines were then administered and helminth infections treated a week after the first hepatitis B boost. Over an 8 month period, 3 blood specimens were obtained for the evaluation of humoral and cytokine responses to the vaccine antigens and for immunophenotyping.Results146 individuals were available for final analysis and 26% were S. mansoni positive (Sm+). Schistosomiasis did not impede the generation of initial minimum protective antibody levels to either hepatitis B or TT vaccines. However, median hepatitis B surface antibody levels were significantly lower in the Sm+ group after the first boost and remained lower, but not significantly lower, following praziquantel (PZQ) treatment and final boost. In addition, 8 months following TT boost and 7 months following PZQ treatment, Sm+ individuals were more likely to have anti-TT antibody levels fall below levels considered optimal for long term protection. IL-5 levels in response to in vitro TT stimulation of whole blood were significantly higher in the Sm+ group at the 8 month time period as well.ConclusionsIndividuals with schistosomiasis at the start the immunizations were capable of responding appropriately to the vaccines as measured by antibody responses. However, they may be at risk of a more rapid decline in antibody levels over time, suggesting that treating schistosome infections with praziquantel before immunizations could be beneficial. The timing of the treatment as well as its full impact on the maintenance of antibodies against vaccine antigens remains to be elucidated.

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Schistosome: Its Benefit and Harm in Patients Suffering from Concomitant Diseases

Cited by 23 publications

References 104 publications

Schistosome infection aggravates HCV‐related liver disease and induces changes in the regulatory T‐cell phenotype

Schistosome infection aggravates HCV‐related liver disease and induces changes in the regulatory T‐cell phenotype

Combination therapy using Pentostam and Praziquantel improves lesion healing and parasite resolution in BALB/c mice co-infected with Leishmania major and Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosoma mansoni Infection Can Jeopardize the Duration of Protective Levels of Antibody Responses to Immunizations against Hepatitis B and Tetanus Toxoid

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