Increase of malaria attacks among children presenting concomitant infection by Schistosoma mansoni in Senegal

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Diop Mamadou, Camara Pape, Akiana Jean, Mbaye Pape A, Le Hesran Jean-Yves, Sokhna Cheikh, Ly Abdoulaye, Druilhe Pierre
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2004
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-3-43; https://doaj.org/article/69401c1ec63746aabea36db488fc5c58

Abstract Helminthic infections concomitant with malaria are common in inter-tropical areas. A recent study showed that mice co-infected with Schistosoma mansoni and Plasmodium chabaudi develop higher P. chabaudi parasitaemia and had a higher mortality rate. This important observation deserved to be further investigated among human populations. Malaria attacks were recorded in 512 children aged 6–15 years living in Richard Toll (Northern Senegal) among whom 336 were infected by S. mansoni , and 175 were not. The incidence rate of malaria attacks was significantly higher among S. mansoni -infected individuals, particularly those carrying the highest worm loads, as compared to uninfected subjects (26.6% versus 16,4 %). In contrast, the rate of malaria attacks was lower, without reaching significance, in medium grade S. mansoni infections. Thus, infection by S. mansoni affects susceptibility to malaria, but this can vary according to the intensity of parasite load. The immunological mechanisms underlying this dual effect need to be further explored.