Effect of malaria pathology on CD4 and immune cells

Abstract

Abstract Knowledge of immunity in malariology can help in understanding the pathology, treatment and vaccine production. The effect of malaria disorder on CD4 and immune cells counts was carried out at a Teaching Hospital in Enugu, Eastern Nigeria between October-December 2018. Patients on doctor’s provisional diagnosis of malaria were examined for Plasmodium infections and the degree of parasitaemia (0, +, ++, and +++). Positive samples and negative ones (0) were thereafter examined for their CD4 (Flow cytometry) and immune cells (Automated blood cell counter) counts. 45 patients were studied. All the Plasmodium-negative specimens were within reference ranges of CD4 cell count (464–1308); with mean value of 835. The (+) parasitaemia showed lower ranges of CD4 count (502–1282); mean = 678; with immune falls in one (427). The 12 (++) parasitaemia showed crash in 9 CD4 cells counts; range: 301–415; mean = 399. All the 7 (+++) parasitaemia showed crashes in CD4 cell counts, range: 160–357; mean = 225. The CD4 cells falls and crashes were detected only in Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia infections. Depending on the CD4 cells count, also a reflex of parasitaemia, variances occur in the various immune cells’ percent and numeric. TWBC count fell in only 3 patients (1.99, 3.42 & 3.64) × 109 cells/L, corresponding to (+++), (++) & (+) parasitaemia, respectively. Low CD4 counts does not always produce low lymphocyte numeric, probably because other CD or killer cells compensates it. In conclusion, Plasmodium falciparum infection causes immuno-suppression in patients. Corollary, it means that malaria infection in the immunodeficients and AIDS patients will accelerate the complications as well as death, unlike prevailing reports.