Prevalence of malaria and quantification of cytokine levels during infection in East Nile locality, Khartoum State: a cross-sectional study.

Hwida Barkat,Ali Nasir,Ahmed Galander,Tayseer Elfaki,Tagwa Salah,Ahmed Bakheet Abd Alla

doi:10.12688/f1000research.19217.2

Hwida Barkat, Ali Nasir + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.19217.2

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Abstract

Background: The cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) play an important role in malaria infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and to evaluate cytokine responses to malaria infection in patients from the East Nile locality of Khartoum State. Methods: This study was carried out from May to July 2018 in the East Nile Locality, Khartoum State. Blood samples were collected from 384 randomly selected patients for blood film analysis. Of these, 39 were selected for cytokine level analysis (10 control and 29 patient samples), determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: The malaria prevalence rate among 384 patients was 18.5%. Plasmodium falciparum was the most prevalent (13%), while the prevalence of Plasmodium vivax was 4.6%. The rate of mixed infection was 0.8%. There was a higher prevalence rate (22.7%) in males than females (15.6%). However, we found no significant correlation between cytokine levels and parasitemia in the study group. Nevertheless, our study demonstrated a significant correlation between cytokine levels and recurrent infections. Conclusions: Together, our data show that malaria remains a public health problem in East Nile locality with a high prevalence. Additionally,serum levels of IFN- γ and TNF- α were significantly higher in malaria-infected individuals compared to non-infecting individuals and cytokine levels were found to be correlated with recurrent malaria infection.

Highlights

The cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) play an important role in malaria infection
Out of 384 blood samples collected from different pre-urban areas in the East Nile locality during the period from May to July 2018, 71 (18.5%) were found to be positive and 313 (81.5 %) were negative for malaria (Table 1) (Abd Alla & Brakat, 2019)
This rate was greater than the rate reported in Khartoum by El Mekki et al (2012), who reported the prevalence of malaria in 5% and 11% in Dar Al Salam Camp and Jabal Awlia Camp, respectively

Summary

Introduction

The cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) play an important role in malaria infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and to evaluate cytokine responses to malaria infection in patients from the East Nile locality of Khartoum State. Methods: This study was carried out from May to July 2018 in the East Nile Locality, Khartoum State. 39 were selected for cytokine level analysis (10 control and 29 patient samples), determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: The malaria prevalence rate among 384 patients was 18.5%. Our study demonstrated a significant correlation between cytokine levels and recurrent infections. Conclusions: Together, our data show that malaria remains a public health problem in East Nile locality with a high prevalence. Serum levels of IFN- γ and TNF- α were significantly higher in malaria-infected individuals compared to non-infecting individuals and cytokine levels were found to be correlated with recurrent malaria infection

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