Intestinal Helminth Co-infection is an Unrecognised Risk Factor for Increased Pneumococcal Carriage Density and Invasive Disease

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2021 Mar 27

PMID 33772094

Citations 1

Authors

Alice E Law

Rebecca K Shears

Andrea A Lopez Rodas

Richard K Grencis

Philip J Cooper

Daniel R Neill

Aras Kadioglu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of death in children and burden of disease is greatest where helminth infections are also common. We investigated the impact of intestinal helminth co-infection on pneumococcal carriage; a risk factor for invasive disease. We used a mouse co-infection model and clinical data to assess the impact of co-infection on carriage density. Co-infection in mice was associated with increased pneumococcal carriage density and dissemination into lungs. Helminth-infected children also exhibited increased carriage density as compared to uninfected children. Anthelmintic treatment may be a cost-effective method of reducing pneumococcal disease burden in lower-income countries.

Citing Articles

Infection with soil-transmitted helminths and their impact on coinfections.

Schlosser-Brandenburg J, Midha A, Mugo R, Ndombi E, Gachara G, Njomo D Front Parasitol. 2025; 2():1197956.

PMID: 39816832 PMC: 11731630. DOI: 10.3389/fpara.2023.1197956.

and comorbidities - within a mouse model context.

Hayes K, Grencis R Parasitology. 2021; :1-9.

PMID: 34078488 PMC: 8660644. DOI: 10.1017/S0031182021000883.

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