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Association of deworming with reduced eosinophilia: implications of HIV/AIDS and co-endemic diseases
Association of deworming with reduced eosinophilia: implications of HIV/AIDS and co-endemic diseases
Schoeman S.E. Markus M.B. Bentwich Z. Mansvelt E.P.G. Adams V.J. Fincham J.E. Dhansay M.A. Lombard, C.J.
Schoeman S.E.
Markus M.B.
Bentwich Z.
Mansvelt E.P.G.
Adams V.J.
Fincham J.E.
Dhansay M.A.
Lombard, C.J.
Abstract
Eosinophil counts in venous blood were monitored during a randomized controlled deworming trial (n = 155 children) that lasted for a year, and in a whole-school deworming programme (range 174-256 children) of 2 years' duration. Mean eosinophil counts (×109 / l) decreased from 0.70 in the randomized trial, and 0.61 in the whole-school study, to well within the normal paediatric range of 0.05-0.45 (P < 0.05). The prevalence of eosinophilia declined from 57% to 37% in the randomized trial (mean for 400, 800 and 1200 mg albendazole doses); and from 47% to 24% in the whole-school study (500 mg stat mebendazole). Benzimidazole anthelminthics were highly effective against Ascaris but less so against Trichuris. Activated eosinophils are effector and immunoregulatory leucocytes of the T-helper cell type 2 (Th2) immune response to parasitic helminths and atopic disorders. Under conditions of poverty where soil-transmitted helminths are hyperendemic, Th2 polarization of the immune profile is characteristic. Regular anthelminthic treatment should reduce contact with worm antigens, and this may contribute to re-balancing of the immune profile. Suppression of eosinophil recruitment and activation, together with related cellular and molecular immunological changes, might have positive implications for prevention and treatment of co-endemic diseases, including HIV / AIDS, cholera, tuberculosis and atopic disorders..
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Date
2003
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Keywords
Deworming , eosinophilia , cell , immune , implications , co-endemic diseases , HIV / AIDS
Citation
Schoeman S.E., Markus M.B., Bentwich Z., Mansvelt E.P.G., Adams V.J., Fincham J.E., et al. Association of deworming with reduced eosinophilia : implications for HIV / AIDS and co-endemic diseases : research letters. South African Journal of Science