REDUCED SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF RETINOL AND α-TOCOPHEROL AND HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF HYDROPEROXIDES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNITY LEVELS OF S. MANSONI INFECTION AND SCHISTOSOMAL PERIPORTAL FIBROSIS IN ETHIOPIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 76; no. 5; pp. 943 - 949
• Main Authors: BERHE, NEGA, HALVORSEN, BENTE L., GUNDERSEN, THOMAS E., MYRVANG, BJØRN, GUNDERSEN, SVEIN G., BLOMHOFF, RUNE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS Allen Press 01.05.2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; alpha-Tocopherol - blood; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child Nutrition Disorders - parasitology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diseases caused by trematodes; Ethiopia - epidemiology; Feces - parasitology; Female; Helminthic diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Lipid Peroxides - blood; Liver - diagnostic imaging; Liver Cirrhosis - blood; Liver Cirrhosis - diagnostic imaging; Liver Cirrhosis - parasitology; Male; Medical sciences; Parasitic diseases; Portal Vein - pathology; Prevalence; Schistosoma mansoni - pathogenicity; Schistosomiases; Schistosomiasis mansoni - blood; Schistosomiasis mansoni - diagnosis; Schistosomiasis mansoni - epidemiology; Ultrasonography; Vitamin A - blood; Ethiopia; Africa; Human; Schistosoma mansoni; Liver; Trematode disease; Vitamin; Plathelmintha; Hydroperoxide; α-Tocopherol; Parasitosis; Helminthiasis; Trematoda; Retinol; Infection; Schistosomiasis; Fibrosis; Helmintha; Tropical medicine; Serum; Invertebrata; Child
• ISSN: 0002-9637
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2007.76.943

To study the relationship between micronutrient malnutrition and schistosomiasis mansoni, a cross-sectional study was undertaken involving 421 schoolchildren (mean age 12.6 years; 333 from schistosomiasis mansoni–endemic villages (Workemado and Sille) and 88 non-endemic controls from Sheno). Prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni infection in Workemado and Sille was comparable (90.6% versus 95%, respectively), and prevalence of PPF in Workemado was significantly higher than in Sille (7.0% versus 0.6%, P < 0.001). Compared with non-endemic controls, serum retinol concentrations were significantly lower and hydroperoxides were significantly higher in subjects from schistosomiasis mansoni–endemic areas. Furthermore, serum α-tocopherol concentrations in subjects from an area with high prevalence of PPF were significantly reduced while the concentrations in subjects from an area with low prevalence of PPF were comparable to the levels found in non-endemic healthy controls. In conclusion, micronutrient malnutrition and oxidative stress are associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection and levels of schistosomal PPF.