AUTHOR=Ondigo Bartholomew N. , Hamilton Rachael E. , Magomere Edwin O. , Onkanga Isaac O. , Mwinzi Pauline N. , Odiere Maurice R. , Ganley-Leal Lisa 

TITLE=Potential Utility of Systemic Plasma Biomarkers for Evaluation of Pediatric Schistosomiasis in Western Kenya

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.887213

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.887213

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Current diagnostic tools for schistosomiasis are limited, and new tests are necessary to enhance disease diagnosis and surveillance. Identification of novel disease-specific biomarkers may facilitate the development of such tests. We evaluated a panel of biomarkers used in sepsis and parasitic diseases for their potential suitability in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis.</p></sec><sec><title>Objective</title><p>The study evaluated the levels of systemic plasma biomarkers in relation to <italic>Schistosoma mansoni</italic> infection and parasite burden.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Six biomarkers were measured in the plasma of children from schistosomiasis-endemic regions using ELISA. The concentration of soluble CD23 (sCD23) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was tested in 199 and 124 plasma samples, respectively, while interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid (sTREM) cells, eotaxin-1, and fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) concentrations were tested in 30 plasma samples.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The concentration of IL-6, eotaxin-1, FABP, and LPS was similar between schistosome-infected and uninfected children. The schistosome-infected children had higher median levels of sTREM and sCD23 as compared to uninfected children, 119.0 (29.9–208.9) versus 10.7 (0.0–73.4) (<italic>p</italic> = 0.046) and 2,549.0 (1,899.0–3,356.0) vs. 2,035.0 (1,448.0–2,939.0) (<italic>p</italic> = 0.05), respectively. In addition, sTREM was positively correlated with egg density (<italic>p</italic> = 0.017).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Our data show that active schistosomiasis <italic>per se</italic> is associated with elevated levels of sTREM and sCD23. sTREM has potential diagnostic and prognostic values. However, these biomarkers did not distinguish between children with low egg burden and uninfected children.</p></sec>