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

Abstract

<ns4:p><ns4:bold>Background: </ns4:bold>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.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Methods:</ns4:bold> 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.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Results: </ns4:bold>The malaria prevalence rate among 384 patients was 18.5%. <ns4:italic>Plasmodium</ns4:italic><ns4:italic> falciparum </ns4:italic>was the most prevalent (13%), while the prevalence of <ns4:italic>Plasmodium</ns4:italic> <ns4:italic>vivax </ns4:italic>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.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Conclusions: </ns4:bold>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.</ns4:p>

Thrombocytopenia as a Diagnostic Marker for Malaria in Patients with Acute Febrile Illness

“…Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan countries highly endemic to malaria where an estimated 68% of the population lives in malarious areas [ 4 , 5 ]. In the present study, the prevalence of microscopically confirmed malaria cases was 17.3% which is similar to studies conducted in the Zeway Health Center, Ethiopia (17%) [ 22 ], Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia (18.3%) [ 23 ], East Nile locality of Khartoum State (18.5%) [ 24 ], and Kenya (15.5%) [ 25 ]. However, the finding of this study is lower than studies conducted in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia (27.6%) [ 20 ], Kersa Woreda, Ethiopia (43.8%) [ 26 ], Zaria, Nigeria (45.4%) [ 27 ], and New Delhi (24%) [ 18 ] and higher than studies conducted in North Shoa, Ethiopia (8.4%), and District Dir Lower, Pakistan (12.2%) [ 28 , 29 ].…”

EVALUATION OF Plasmodium falciparum PARASITAEMIA AND ASSOCIATED INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

“…The prevalence rate of P. falciparum infection observed among the pregnant women in this study is 31.9%, which is lower than the rates of 40%, 60%, 78.4%, and 92% reported in Abia and Gombe State Nigeria, respectively (Ali, 2022;Ejike et al, 2017;Shaibu et al, 2019;Yoriyo and Hafsat, 2014). Additionally, the prevalence rate is higher than the rates of 18.5% and 19.5% reported in Sudan and Lagos Nigeria, respectively (Barkat et al, 2019;Olukosi and Afolabi, 2018). The difference in the prevalence rate in this study compared to the previous studies could be due to the difference in regions, time and season in which the studies were conducted and the environmental conditions which harbours the breading site of the intermediate host in the study area.…”

“…The early recreation of inflammatory reaction induced by IFN-γ and IL-12. TNF-α appears to be essential for parasite clearance and parasitemia control in malaria infection (Barkat et al, 2019). The high production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with severe malaria and these may increase adherence of parasitized red blood cells to the endothelium through upregulation of adhesion molecules in P. falciparum infections (Barkat et al, 2019;Malaguarnera & Musumeci, 2002).…”

“…TNF-α appears to be essential for parasite clearance and parasitemia control in malaria infection (Barkat et al, 2019). The high production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with severe malaria and these may increase adherence of parasitized red blood cells to the endothelium through upregulation of adhesion molecules in P. falciparum infections (Barkat et al, 2019;Malaguarnera & Musumeci, 2002). The production of Th2-type cytokines by maternal leukocytes prevent initiation of inflammatory and pathologic dissolution that may possibly detriment the integrity of the pregnancy outcome.…”

Immunological and Anti-oxidant Profiles of Malarial Children in Abuja, Nigeria

“…Similarly, significant elevated level of proinflammatory IL-6 and IL-10 was reported in Malian children with severe-malaria [38,39]. In addition, a Sudanese study reported high level of IL-10 was reported among malaria parasitemic children [40].…”