title: Mechanism of anemia in Schistosoma mansoni-infected school children in Western Kenya.
abstract: A better understanding of the mechanism of anemia associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection might provide useful information on how treatment programs are implemented to minimize schistosomiasis-associated morbidity and maximize treatment impact. We used a cross-sectional study with serum samples from 206 Kenyan school children to determine the mechanisms in S. mansoni-associated anemia. Serum ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor levels were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results suggest that S. mansoni-infected persons are more likely (odds ratio = 3.68, 95% confidence interval = 1.33-10.1) to have levels of serum ferritin (> 100 ng/mL) that are associated with anemia of inflammation (AI) than S. mansoni-uninfected children. Our results suggest that AI is the most common form of anemia in S. mansoni infections. In contrast, the mechanism of anemia in S. mansoni-uninfected children was iron deficiency. Moreover, the prevalence of AI in the study participants demonstrated a significant trend with S. mansoni infection intensity (P < 0.001). Our results are consistent with those observed in S. japonicum-associated anemia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. saebutler@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Erick M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Muok
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Keziah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Odhiambo
authors.forename: Pauline M N
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mwinzi
authors.forename: W Evan
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Secor
authors.forename: Diana M S
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Karanja
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D011990:Receptors, Transferrin