Estimation of Stress Induces By Malaria Parasite Infection and Effect of Anti-malaria Drugs on Stress Index, Lipid Profile in Uncomplicated Acute Malaria Infected Adult Individuals

Abstract

Malaria infection is accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species which indicates the environment for oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in malaria may originate from several sources including intracellular parasitized erythrocytes and extra-erythrocytes as a result of haemolysis and host response. The aim of this study is to estimate level of stress induces by malaria parasite infection and effect of anti malaria drugs on stress index in uncomplicated acute malaria infected adult individuals. 202 confirmed malaria infected patients were recruited for the study between the ages of 15-64 years of both sexes at the general outpatient clinic of the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. 129(63.9%) were males and 73(36.1%) were females. Mean± SD of cortisol, MDA, glucose and HDL in pre anti-malaria drug treatment of age group A were higher compared to other age groups; there is significant difference (p < 0.05) observed in cortisol and glucose. Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection is accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species which indicates the environment for oxidative stress. The level of stress induced by malaria parasite is corresponded to the severity of infection and age differences; this could be due to the number of exposure to mosquito bites which increases with age and also increase the level of immunity against malaria infection.

Malaria diagnostic and parasite density prediction potentials of some serum biochemical parameters in children with severe falciparum malaria treated with artesunate/artemether- lumefantrine combination therapy

“…Though, serum SOD activity and PCO level were altered in children with severe malaria in this study, corroborating some earlier reports [53,50,54], the association between severe malaria and PCO/SOD, and HCO3/glucose ratios has not been reported in previous literatures to the best of our knowledge and all these parameters exhibited relatively low sensitivity with relatively high specificity or vice versa (Table 3 and Figure 1). This suggests that these parameters may not be effective malaria diagnostic parameters.…”

“…In severe malaria, there is parasite induced oxidative stress which depletes some components of the antioxidant system; this leads to increased oxidation of biomolecules such as protein, thus causing an elevation in serum PCO level [50] with a decrease in the serum antioxidant (SOD), thus overwhelming the first line enzymic antioxidant defense in an attempt by the host to offset the effect of the increasing oxidative stress [51][52]. This study revealed normal serum bicarbonate level compared to control and it followed no regular pattern with increase in parasite density (Tables 1 and 2).…”