Serum Cytokine Levels in Intestinal Helminth Infected Pre- School Aged Nigerian Children before and after Oral Rotavirus Vaccination.

Abstract

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of diarrheal episodes among children of low income countries of the world and its high prevalence among Nigerian children has been reported. Vaccination holds the best hope for reduction of rotavirus-associated mortality and morbidity but study on Rota virus immunogenicity in helminth infected subjects in Nigeria is unknown. This study therefore determined cytokine levels in helminth infected Nigerian Children following oral rotavirus vaccination. A total of 22 pre-school aged children (1-4 years old) comprising 12 (7 males, 5 females) helminth infected and 10 (5 males, 5 females) helminth- free children were vaccinated with Oral Rotavirus Vaccine (Rotarix, Glaxosmithkline). Blood samples were taken before and 4 weeks after vaccination and levels TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6 and IL-8 were determined in the serum using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Pre-vaccinated serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in helminth positive children compared with pre-vaccinated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in helminth negative children. Post-vaccinated level of IL-8 was significantly raised in helminth positive children compared with post-vaccinated level of IL-8 in helminth negative children. Pre-vaccinated level of IL-8 was significantly higher in helminth positive children compared with post-vaccinated level of IL-8 in helminth positive children. Post vaccinated level of IL-10 was significantly raised in both helminth positive and helminth – negative children compared with its pre-vaccinated levels in both helminth positive and helminth – negative children. Post vaccinated level of IL-10 was also significantly raised in helminth positive children compared with pre-vaccinated level of IL-10 in helminth- negative children. There were no statistically significant differences in serum TNF-α levels pre- and post-vaccination in helminth negative and helminth positive children. Helminth infection significantly raised the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in un-vaccinated children while Rota-virus vaccine significantly reduced the serum IL-8 level. Rotavirus vaccine reduces the inflammatory cytokine responses induced by helminths.