Effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection on Cellular Immune Response and Haemoglobin Level

Abstract

A study of Schistosoma mansoni infection was carried out in Khartoum State Hospitals. This study was designed to determine the effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection on haemoglobin level, total white blood cells count and differential white blood cells count. One hundred and fifty stool samples were examined by direct wet preparation and formol ether concentration technique, 50 were diagnosed with Schistosoma mansoni, 50 specimens from individuals infected before and 50 specimens were collected from healthy persons and considered as control. Haemoglobin concentration using Drabkin solution, total white cells count using Neubar counting Chamber and differential count using stained thin blood film technique, were tested to all population. The study demonstrated that infection with Schistosoma mansoni decreased the haemoglobin level, Mean value of haemoglobin concentration was found ( 10.6g/dl.) among those who were infected with Schistosoma mansoni, (12.2g/dl) among those who were infected and treated and (13.2 g/dl) among the control group, there is highly significance ( p = 0.001 ). There was an increase in the total white cells count. The mean of total white blood cells count was found (7,846/m3) in the blood samples of those who were presently infected with Schistosoma mansoni. While it was (6,362/m3) in those who were infected and treated, and (3,202/m3) among the control group, which showed a highly significance, ( p = 0.001). In the differential count the results showed that Schistosoma mansoni infection increased the eosinophils (1 %) and monocytes(4 %) count,and did not affect the neutrophils, lymphocytes and basophils count. There were normal neutrophils count as compared with normal values ( 60 % ), there is a significance ( p = 0.001) with variation between groups of samples. Eosinophils were increased (1 %) among infected patients and were normal among those who were infected and treated and the control group. The difference is highly significant ( p = 0.001). Monocytes were increased (4 %) among those who were infected with Schistosoma mansoni, and were normal in those who had previous infection, and the control group .There is highly significance ( p = 0.001) Lymphocytes were noticed to be normal (29 %) with variation between groups of sample. Normal range ( 20 – 40 % ). Basophils were noticed to be normal or low (0 %) with no statistically significance differences. Result of the study showed that infection with Shistosoma mansoni is commoner in males, 82% for males, and 18 % for females.