title: Effect of maternal Schistosoma mansoni infection and praziquantel treatment during pregnancy on Schistosoma mansoni infection and immune responsiveness among offspring at age five years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Offspring of Schistosoma mansoni-infected women in schistosomiasis-endemic areas may be sensitised in-utero. This may influence their immune responsiveness to schistosome infection and schistosomiasis-associated morbidity. Effects of praziquantel treatment of S. mansoni during pregnancy on risk of S. mansoni infection among offspring, and on their immune responsiveness when they become exposed to S. mansoni, are unknown. Here we examined effects of praziquantel treatment of S. mansoni during pregnancy on prevalence of S. mansoni and immune responsiveness among offspring at age five years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a trial in Uganda (ISRCTN32849447, http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN32849447/elliott), offspring of women treated with praziquantel or placebo during pregnancy were examined for S. mansoni infection and for cytokine and antibody responses to SWA and SEA, as well as for T cell expression of FoxP3, at age five years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1343 children examined, 32 (2.4%) had S. mansoni infection at age five years based on a single stool sample. Infection prevalence did not differ between children of treated or untreated mothers. Cytokine (IFNγ, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13) and antibody (IgG1, Ig4 and IgE) responses to SWA and SEA, and FoxP3 expression, were higher among infected than uninfected children. Praziquantel treatment of S. mansoni during pregnancy had no effect on immune responses, with the exception of IL-10 responses to SWA, which was higher in offspring of women that received praziquantel during pregnancy than those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no evidence that maternal S. mansoni infection and its treatment during pregnancy influence prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni infection or effector immune response to S. mansoni infection among offspring at age five years, but the observed effects on IL-10 responses to SWA suggest that maternal S. mansoni and its treatment during pregnancy may affect immunoregulatory responsiveness in childhood schistosomiasis. This might have implications for pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda ; Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tweyongyere
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naniima
authors.forename: Patrice A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mawa
authors.forename: Frances M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Emily L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cose
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D010919:Placebos; D011223:Praziquantel