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Association of TNF (rs1800629) promoter polymorphism and schistosomiasis with sub‐microscopic asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections in a schistosomiasis‐endemic area in Zimbabwe
Author(s) -
Vengesai Arthur,
Marume Amos,
Midzi Herald,
Kasambala Maritha,
Naicker Thajasvarie,
Mduluza Takafira
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.13527
Subject(s) - asymptomatic , plasmodium falciparum , schistosoma haematobium , genotype , schistosoma , schistosomiasis , biology , malaria , schistosoma mansoni , immunology , virology , medicine , helminths , genetics , gene
Objectives Infection with Plasmodium falciparum parasites may result in a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to mild or severe. A number of factors are associated with this heterogeneous response to P . falciparum infection. In the present study, associations of sub‐microscopic asymptomatic P. falciparum with Schistosoma species and TNF (rs1800629) polymorphism were investigated. Methods 361 clinically healthy primary school children were microscopically screened for S. haematobium , S. mansoni and P. falciparum . Sub‐microscopic asymptomatic P. falciparum infections were determined by PCR. Genotypic profiles were identified using ARMS‐PCR. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of sub‐microscopic asymptomatic P. falciparum with Schistosoma species and TNF (rs1800629) polymorphism. Results 17.2% of the children were infected with S. mansoni , and 27.4% were infected with S. haematobium . Microscopic examination of thick smears detected only one child infected with P. falciparum . Based on PCR results, 46.1% were infected with sub‐microscopic asymptomatic P. falciparum . Children carrying heterozygous AG (OR: 16.964, 95% CI: 0.496–586.547) and homozygous GG (OR: 2.280, 95% CI: 0.111–46.796) genotypes of rs1800629 were associated with an increased likelihood of sub‐microscopic asymptomatic P. falciparum infections compared with those carrying homozygous AA genotype. Children without S. haematobium infections (OR: 1.051, 95% CI: 0.146–8.985) and S. mansoni (OR: 2.658, 95% CI: 0.498–14.184) also had an increased likelihood (risk) of being infected with sub‐microscopic asymptomatic P. falciparum compared with the Schistosoma‐ infected groups. However, all the associations observed were not statistical significant. Conclusion No associations were observed between rs1800629 and schistosomiasis with sub‐microscopic asymptomatic P. falciparum infections. This study also reports a high prevalence of sub‐microscopic asymptomatic P. falciparum infection concomitant with low malaria transmission.