Serum cytokine responses in Rickettsia felis infected febrile children, Ghana

In this study, we characterize for the first time the cytokine profile in the acute phase of illness caused byR. felis infection, as well as in plasmodial co-infection, using serum from 23 febrile children  <  15 years of age and 20 age-matched healthy controls from Ghana. Levels of IL-8 (interleukin-8), IP-10 (interferon-γ-induced protein-10), MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1), MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein-1α) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) were significantly elevate d inR. felis mono-infection; however, IL-8 and VEGF elevation was not observed in plasmodial co-infections. These results have important implications in understanding the early immune responses toR. felis and suggest a complex interplay in co-infections.
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research