Interleukin-10 and tumour necrosis factor alpha promoter region polymorphisms and susceptibility to urogenital schistosomiasis in young Zimbabwean children living in endemic regions.

BACKGROUND

Host genetic factors can influence susceptibility, morbidity and mortality from schistosomiasis. The study explored the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) promoter regions and susceptibility to infection.

METHODS

Urine specimens were collected from 361 primary school children aged 5-15 years from schistosomiasis endemic areas of Manicaland and Mashonaland central provinces. was diagnosed using the urine filtration method. Only 272 participants provided adequate blood for genotyping. Genotyping was performed using the amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction. The association between IL-10 and TNF-α SNPs and infection was analysed using the chi-square test.

RESULTS

infection was confirmed in 26.8% of the participants. No significant difference in prevalence between men (51.6% of those infected) and women (48.4%) (χ = 0.008, = 1, = 0.928) was observed. The total IL-10 -1082 G, IL-10 -819 C and TNF-α -308G allele distribution between infected and uninfected participants was 50.7% and 51.5% (χ = 0.025, = 1, = 0.87), 54.3% and 60.6% (χ = 1.187, = 1, = 0.187) and 82.1% and 80.9% (χ = 0.099, = 1, = 0.753), respectively, and the differences were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Interleukin-10 -1082 G/A, IL-10 -819 C/T and TNF-α -308 G/A SNPs were not significantly associated with susceptibility to infection. The prevalence of schistosomiasis is still in the moderate range and is similar in boys and girls.