ASSESSMENT OF SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO HOOKWORM INFECTION IN PATIENTS ATTENDING SELECTED HOSPITALS IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

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Date
2017-10
Authors
VANDU, Maryam Donald
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Abstract
Hookworm infection is the leading cause of maternal and child morbidity in the tropics and subtropics. The most serious consequence of hookworm infection is anaemia, secondary to loss of iron and protein of gut. The complexity of the hookworm life cycle offers numerous opportunities for the parasite and host to interact at the molecular level. Infection with human hookworms is usually chronic, with adult worms surviving an average of 2–4 years, with a maximum of 18 years and it triggers a series of immune responses in the host. Despite repeated exposure, protective immunity does not seem to develop in humans, so that infections occur in all age groups (depending on exposure patterns) and tend to be prolonged. In this study, the prevalence and the immunological response to hookworm infection were studied among patients attending some selected hospitals in Kano state. A total of four hundred (400) blood and stool samples were collected. Microscopy was carried out to establish the presence of hookworm egg in the stool samples, Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine C3b and IgM levels in the patients’ serum samples. The PCV of the study population was also determined. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 21 was used to test for the associated risk factors for the infection. Twenty one patients representing 5.3% were positive for hookworm and were mainly children. The following results were obtained using questionnaire; age group 6-10 years had the highest prevalence of 17.8% followed by 1-5 years (13.3%) while those within the age group 16-20 years had the least prevalence (2%), hence, the distribution was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was increase in IgM level in all the participants but the participants that were infected with hookworm showed slightly higher level (9.8mg/ml). PCV was determined for all participants, 19 (35%) of the positive participants had PCV within the range of 1-20% and 2 (0.57%) participants were within the range 21-above (%), a significant relationship was observed between PCV and hookworm infection (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed that the prevalence of hookworm infection was low (5.3%) among the study participants in the selected hospitals in Kano and were mainly children (21). Hookworm infection was characterized by low PCV (21.67%) and significantly elevated IgM (9.87mg/ml). However, complement C3b a major activation component of the system was not elevated (0.73mg/ml) and falls within the normal range (0.3-1.6mg/ml). Therefore, more work needs to be carried out on the immunology of hookworm infection in order to have a better understanding of the interaction of the parasite and the host immune system.
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A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULLFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc) IN MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY, FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, IMMUNOLOGICAL,, HOOKWORM,, INFECTION,, PATIENTS,, HOSPITALS,, KANO STATE,, NIGERIA
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