PERIPHERAL PARASITAEMIA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PLASMA CYTOKINES LEVELS IN MALARIA-INFECTED PREGNANT WOMEN IN ABA, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Authors

  • M.O. Ifeanyichukwu
  • O.C. Okamgba
  • G.I. Amilo
  • E.A. Nwokorie

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21010/ajid.v11i2.7

Keywords:

Malaria, pregnancy, cytokines, woman, association

Abstract

Background: Cytokines in pregnant female may not be a normal phenomenon as malarial infection is often associated with strong CD4+ cell activation and up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We investigated the relationship between peripheral parasitaemia and plasma levels of cytokines among malaria infected pregnant women in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 206 non-HIV positive asymptomatic malaria parasitaemic (n=144) and non-parasitaemic (n=62) pregnant women were recruited for this study alongside 80 non-pregnant women who served as positive (n=40) and negative (n=40) controls. Blood samples were aseptically collected from each subject and tested for HIV and malaria parasites using standard methods. Also, plasma levels of cytokines were measured using Th1/Th2 human cytokine ELISA kits (Abcam, UK). Analysis of Variance and Student’s t-test were used for Comparison of groups while Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was used for tests of association. Results: The results revealed a mean parasite density of 685.56±484.55 parasites/μl of blood. Malaria infected pregnant subjects showed significantly higher levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 when compared with their non-infected counterparts (P< 0.05). The cytokines evaluated were higher in moderate parasitaemia than mild parasitaemia. Positive correlation existed between peripheral parasite density (PPD) and IL-4 (r= 0.24, P=0.004), PPD and IL-6 (r = 0.35, P = 0.001) as well as PPD and IL- 10 (r = 0.29, P = 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that increase in peripheral parasitaemia increased levels of some plasma cytokines (IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) but not IFN-γ and TNF-α in the malaria infected pregnant women studied.

Author Biography

M.O. Ifeanyichukwu

1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Nigeria.

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Published

2017-06-08

How to Cite

Ifeanyichukwu, M., Okamgba, O., Amilo, G., & Nwokorie, E. (2017). PERIPHERAL PARASITAEMIA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PLASMA CYTOKINES LEVELS IN MALARIA-INFECTED PREGNANT WOMEN IN ABA, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA. African Journal of Infectious Diseases (AJID), 11(2), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.21010/ajid.v11i2.7

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