Soil-transmitted helminths: A critical review of the impact of co-infections and implications for control and elimination

by Sarah Lebu, Winnie Kibone, Chimdi C. Muoghalu, Stephen Ochaya, Aaron Salzberg, Felix Bongomin, Musa Manga Researchers have raised the possibility that soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections might modify the host ’s immune response against other systemic infections. STH infections can alter the immune response towards type 2 immunity that could then affect the likelihood and severity of other illnesses. However, the importance of co-infections is not completely understood, and the impact and direction of t heir effects vary considerably by infection. This review synthesizes evidence regarding the relevance of STH co-infections, the potential mechanisms that explain their effects, and how they might affect control and elimination efforts. According to the literature reviewed, there are both positive an d negative effects associated with STH infections on other diseases such as malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, gestational anemia, pediatric anemia, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) like lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and trachoma, as well as Coronav irus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and human papillomavirus (HPV). Studies typically describe how STHs can affect the immune system and promote increased susceptibility, survival, and persistence of the infection in the host by causing a TH2-dominated immune response. The co-infection of STH with other di seases has important implications for the development of treatment and contr...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research