Serum Cytokine Responses in Intestinal Helminth Infected Nigerian Children before and after Oral Rotavirus Vaccination.

Background: 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 responses in helminth infected Nigerian Children following oral rotavirus vaccination. Methodology: A total of 22 pre-school aged children 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 3 weeks after vaccination and serum levels TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6 and IL-8 were determined in the serum using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Method. Results: Pre-vaccinated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly raised 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 raised in helminth positive children compared with post-vaccinated level of IL-8 in helminth positive children. Conclusion: Helminth infection significantly increased levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in un-vaccinated children while Rota-virus vaccine significantly reduced IL-8 level. Implication: Rotavirus vaccine reduces inflammatory cytokines induced by helminths.