Intestinal parasites: Associations with intestinal and systemic inflammation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious diseases
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing concern, often associated with chronic inflammation.
• Intestinal parasitic infections are prevalent in school-aged children and can impact health.
• The interplay between parasitic infections, gut inflammation, and systemic inflammation in obese children requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between intestinal parasitic infections and markers of intestinal and systemic inflammation in obese school-aged children.
• To determine if specific parasites or multiple infections influence inflammatory markers.
• To explore the relationship between parasitic infections and leptin levels in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 291 obese children aged 6-10 years.
• Stool examinations for intestinal parasitic infections (helminths and protozoa).
• Measurement of plasma C-Reactive Protein (CRP), leptin, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and stool leukocytes.
• Logistic regression analysis adjusted for covariates.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths was 12% and intestinal protozoa was 36%.
• Parasitic infections were not associated with systemic inflammation markers (CRP, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α).
• Infections with Ascaris lumbricoides and Entamoeba coli were linked to higher stool leukocytes (intestinal inflammation).
• Multiple parasitic infections were associated with higher leptin concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Intestinal parasitic infections are associated with intestinal inflammation, but not systemic inflammation, in obese children.
• Specific parasites like Ascaris lumbricoides and Entamoeba coli contribute to gut inflammation.
• Multiple infections may influence leptin levels, potentially exacerbating obesity-related metabolic changes.