Associations Between Helminth Infections, Plasmodium falciparum Parasite Carriage and Antibody Responses to Sexual and Asexual Stage Malarial Antigens

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2016-08, Vol.95 (2), p.394-400
• Main Authors: Ateba-Ngoa, Ulysse, Jones, Sophie, Zinsou, Jeannot Fréjus, Honkpehedji, Josiane, Adegnika, Ayola Akim, Agobe, Jean-Claude Dejon, Massinga-Loembe, Marguerite, Mordmüller, Benjamin, Bousema, Teun, Yazdanbakhsh, Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - biosynthesis; Antigens, Protozoan - genetics; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Child; Coinfection; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gabon - epidemiology; Gene Expression; Humans; Immunity, Humoral; Life Cycle Stages - genetics; Life Cycle Stages - immunology; Malaria, Falciparum - epidemiology; Malaria, Falciparum - immunology; Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - immunology; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - immunology; Merozoite Surface Protein 1 - genetics; Merozoite Surface Protein 1 - immunology; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - genetics; Plasmodium falciparum - growth & development; Plasmodium falciparum - immunology; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Protozoan Proteins - immunology; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma haematobium - genetics; Schistosoma haematobium - growth & development; Schistosoma haematobium - immunology; Schistosomiasis haematobia - epidemiology; Schistosomiasis haematobia - immunology; Schistosomiasis haematobia - parasitology
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0703

Infections with helminths and Plasmodium spp. overlap in their geographical distribution. It has been postulated that helminth infections may influence malarial transmission by altering Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis. This cross-sectional study assessed the effect of helminth infections on P. falciparum gametocyte carriage and on humoral immune responses to sexual stage antigens in Gabon. Schistosoma haematobium and filarial infections as well as P. falciparum asexual forms and gametocyte carriage were determined. The antibody responses measured were to sexual (Pfs230, Pfs48/45) and asexual P. falciparum antigens (AMA1, MSP1, and GLURP). A total of 287 subjects were included. The prevalence of microscopically detectable P. falciparum asexual parasites was higher in S. haematobium-infected subjects in comparison to their uninfected counterparts (47% versus 26%, P = 0.003), but this was not different when filarial infections were considered. Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage was similar between Schistosoma- or filaria-infected and uninfected subjects. We observed a significant decrease of Pfs48/45 immunoglobulin G titer in S. haematobium-infected subjects (P = 0.037), whereas no difference was seen for Pfs230 antibody titer, nor for antibodies to AMA1, MSP1, or GLURP. Our findings suggest an effect of S. haematobium on antibody responses to some P. falciparum gametocyte antigens that may have consequences for transmission-blocking immunity.