Assessment of inflammatory and immunity proteins during falciparum malaria infection in children of Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly species of parasite causing malaria in children living in sub-Sahara Africa and constitutes a real problem of public health. Inflammation and immunity are involved in this malaria infection. This present study was undertaken to determine the inflammatory (C reactive protein or CRP, Haptoglobin, Orosomucoid or AGP) and immunity ( IgG, IgA,IgM) proteins markers concentrations in order to evaluate the immunity and inflammatory proteins secretion concentration and their state in children suffering from Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Patients with positive peripheral blood film for Plasmodium falciparum were compared with subjects without malaria. Giemsa-stained thick blood films were analysed by microscope for plasmodium specie. Haemoglobin and proteins were determined respectively using haematology cell counter and Radial immunodiffusion according to Mancini. Forty seven patients with malaria infection (Plasmodium falciparum) (M/F: 25/22; age 9.7±0.27 yr) and 35 controls (M/F:19/16; age 9.5 ± 0.39 yr) were studied. CRP, AGP, Haptoglobin for inflammatory state and immunoglobins (G, A, M) for immunological markers were determined in malaria children and compared with those of healthy subjects. Results showed that, CRP, AGP and IgM were increased in malaria children for those having high parasite density (exceeding 2000 parasites/ul ) as compared to controls (p<0.01). Parasite density with Plasmodium falciparum is high in children under 5 years old. In the malaria infection (Plasmodium falciparum), CRP and AGP for inflammation markers and IgM for Immunity Makers were disrupted. These disruptions were attributed to the organism defense against Plasmodium falciparum.