Rotavirus-specific-IgA and cytokines responses in <i>Ascaris lumbricoides-</i> infected preschool-aged Nigerian children following rotavirus vaccination

Rotavirus diarrhea and <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> (<i>Al</i>) infection increase intestinal morbidity and were associated with altered immune responses that compromise the vaccine efficacy in children. The serum level of rotavirus specific IgA (RV-IgA) and cytokine profiles in <i>A. lumbricoides</i> (<i>AI</i>) infected preschool-aged Nigerian children were estimated following oral rotavirus vaccination. Nineteen of the 149 preschool-aged children (aged 6 to 60 months) with <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> infection paired with age and sex-matched helminth - free children were administered with oral rotavirus vaccine after intestinal helminth screening using stool sample concentration technique. Separated sera from 3 mL venous blood samples were collected and estimated for cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-8 IL-6, IL-10) and RV-IgA before and three weeks after rotavirus vaccination using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. IFN-γ, IL-8, IL-4 were significantly lower at post-vaccination in <i>Al</i>-infected children compared with pre-vaccination. Serum IL-10 was significantly higher at post-vaccination in both <i>Al</i>-infected children and helminth-free controls, compared with pre-vaccination levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Pre-vaccination IL-8 and IL-6 were significantly higher in <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i>-infected children, while the post-vaccination IL-8 was significantly higher in <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i>-infected compared with control. At post-vaccination period, RV-IgA level was lower in <i>Al</i>-infected children and significantly higher in helminth - free control group compared to pre-vaccination RV-IgA level. <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> infection contributed to down-regulation of some cytokines and antibody responses to oral rotavirus vaccine.