CYTOPATHOLOGIC AND INTERLEUKIN-10 ASSAY IN UROGENITAL SCHISTOSOMIASIS INFESTATION AMONG INHABITANTS OF AGBOR, DELTA STATE, NIGE

Abstract

Schistosomiasis, after malaria is the most important parasite disease in terms of public health impact. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the cytopathologic and interleukin-10 profile in urogenital schistosomiasis among infested individuals regardless of age and sex. Direct urine microscopy, cyto-diagnostic and semi-quantitative diagnosis on urine and serum samples were applied. Voided urine samples were collected into a universal sterile container while venous blood samples were collected into a sterile plain container. The samples were spun using the centrifuge while serum was subjected to interleukin 10 using ELISA kit to check if interleukin 10 were stimulated in serum by agglutination reaction. Results showed that from the two hundred and sixty eight consented volunteers, the mean IL-10 levels were elevated in heavy infestation (399.11 ? 105.01pg/ml) as compared to light (239 ? 10.04 pg/ml) which was statistically not significant (x2 = 2.14, p ?0.05). Increase in IL-10 levels may be a secondary immune response to infestation, while the difference in the mean sera levels of consented volunteers between males (261 ? 121.25 pg/ml) and females (298 ? 106.21 pg/ml) infested with schistosoma haematobium was statistically not significant. Cytodiagnosis revealed interstitial cystitis, cellular and nuclear pleomorphism, atypical cytology cells, and nuclear irregularities; without evidence of malignancy or cancerous cells. Micro-haematuria was detected in strip test while urine cytology and direct urine microscopy showed mature eggs of schistosome haematobium. This study suggests that there exist sufficient cytopathologic evidence in human with chronic urogenital schistosomiasis infestation; where IL-10 levels are low or completely absent.