Impact of Schistosoma mansoni and Echinococcus granulosus experimental coinfection on interleukin 10 and interferon gamma cytokines profile.

The interactions between various aspects of the immune responses mediated by concomitant parasite infections may influence the resultant cytokines profiles. We tested this hypothesis by developing two Schistosoma mansoni and Echinococcus granulosus coinfection murine models. Our aim was to explore the effect of echinoccocis on the immune responses induced by schistosomiasis, either when the two infections were induced synchronously or when echinococcosis was induced during egg deposition period of S. mansoni infection. The proliferation of antigens specific stimulated splenocytes, taken from studied groups, was determined. Then, IFN-γ, and IL-10 production from stimulated cells were measured. Significant elevation of IFN-γ, 4weeks after synchronous coinfection, was occurred compared to S. mansoni infected group, associated with modest elevation of IL10 level. On the other hand, echinococcosis coinfection during egg deposition period of schistosomiasis resulted in significant marked reduction in IL10 level in comparison to S. mansoni infected mice. These results suggested that echinococcosis coinfection, during the switching from Th1 to Th2 cytokine stage of murine schistosomiasis, can alter the ability of S. mansoni infection to skew the cytokines response towards Th2 profile. It is clear that the timing and sequence of concomitant infections are of vital importance for the outcome of the immune response.