Relationship between pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines profiles and some haematological parameters in some Cameroonians infected with Onchocerca volvulus.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, and Interleukin(IL)-1 α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 production in Cameroonians with Onchocerca volvulus (O. volvulus) infection.


METHODS
A total of 357 individuals from five sites at Upper Sanga, Lekkie, Nyong, Kelle and Sanaga Maritime divisions and located along Sanaga valley of Sanaga River in South Cameroon were screened for the presence of O. volvulus using the skin snip. The levels of the interleukins (IL-) namely IL-1 α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 were evaluated using enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay techniques. Haematological parameters were evaluated using standard laboratory automated analyser.


RESULTS
O. volvulus microfilariae were found in skin tissues of 85 (23.81%) volunteers. The mean interleukin (IL-) levels in the O. volvulus control and infected individuals were IL-1 α in (1.65 ± 0.79 and 2.31 ± 0.5) pg/mL; IL-6 in (278.36 ± 55.34 and 201.74 ± 34.56) pg/mL; IL-10 in (436.03 ± 208.64 and 418.49 ± 147.88) pg/mL and IL-13 in (8.98 ± 7.28 and 38.06 ± 11.92) pg/mL. There was a negative correlation between monocyte counts and IL-10 concentration in positive individuals. A negative correlation of IL-6 with white blood cell and lymphocyte counts was observed (P<0.05). The level of IL-13 was positively associated with microfilarial load (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We observed depressed IL-6 and raised IL-13 concentrations in the sera of individuals with onchocerciasis which implicate these interleukins in the immunological responses of the disease. Therefore, these IL-6 and IL-13 are associated with O. volvulus infection among Cameroonians.
Tropical Disease Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria. nmorsiopg@yahoo.com
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D000818:Animals; D002163:Cameroon; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000276:immunology; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000276:immunology*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D018793:Interleukin-13; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D016753:Interleukin-10