Host immune responses to plasmodium berhei ANKA and trichinella Zimbabwenisis infection in balb/c mice.

Four objectives were pursued in this study; (i) metabolic and adaptive immune responses induced in BALB/c mice infected with a tissue-dwelling nematode, Trichinella zimbabwensis were measured, (ii) differential cytokine and antibody responses induced in mice infected with T. zimbabwensis were determined, (iii) cytokines, anti-Trichinella and anti-Plasmodium antibody responses in mice mono- and co-infected with Trichinella zimbabwensis and Plasmodium berghei ANKA were determined and (iv) the effect of antihelminthic treatment against T. zimbabwensis on immunity and malaria disease outcomes was determined. Groups of BALB/c mice were mono- or co-infected with a crocodilederived T. zimbabwensis (Code 1SS1209) and P. berghei ANKA parasites. At various time points, metabolic parameters such as levels of water and food intake, glucose and insulin were measured. Cytokine and antibody responses were also measured by ELISA. Parasite burden and survival rates were used to determine malaria disease outcomes. The results showed that primary T. zimbabwensis infection was characterised by significantly elevated levels of insulin (p < 0.001) that were accompanied with hypophagia, weight loss, altered host compensatory feeding mechanisms. Parasite specific antibodies and Th1/Th2/Th17 and T-regulatory immune responses were elevated. In co-infection, it was observed that T. zimbabwensis induced immunomodulation that conferred protection against Plasmodium growth and early death. Anti-helminthic treatment enhanced antibody and cytokine production in mono- and co-infection mice (p < 0.001) and negatively affected malaria parasite multiplication by improving survivorship of co-infected mice by 42.85% (p < 0.001). From the study, it was concluded that T. zimbabwensis parasites induce mixed Th1/Th2/Th17 immune responses, alter host glucose metabolism and trigger immunomodulation that ameliorated malaria disease outcome. Anti-helminthic treatment acted as an immunomodulator for cytokine and antibody production, ameliorated malaria infection and improved survivorship of co-infected mice. The study shows that malaria coinfection with T. zimbabwensis and anti-helminthic treatment improves survival, enhances immunity and ameliorates malaria. It further shows that deworming may be used as an integrated control measure in areas where malaria and helminths are co-endemic.