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, cytokine levels were found to be correlated with recurrent malaria infection.

Highlights

  • Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that affects humans and animals

  • In order to explore the effect of the immune response to malaria and the development of clinical immunity, this study aimed to measure and determine the prevalence of malaria and quantify cytokine levels in patients with malaria infection in the East Nile locality

  • 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

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Summary

Introduction

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that affects humans and animals. This condition is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. There are five Plasmodium species that are known to cause disease in humans (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and the recently described P. knowlesi). 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. 39 were selected for cytokine level analysis (10 control and 29 patient samples), determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Our study demonstrated a significant correlation between cytokine levels and recurrent infections. Cytokine levels were found to be correlated with recurrent malaria infection

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