2026/01/01 by Boris Sègnito A.E. Savassi, Samoussou-Dine K. Mahaman, Djèlili Biaou +7 · 1 voice
Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms #Parasites and Host Interactions #Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1051/parasite/2026013
openalex publication_date 2026/01/01 · openalex created_date 2026/03/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Host genetic factors influence the severity of infectious diseases, including schistosomiasis, which are major public-health burdens in Africa. While the role of host genetic background in Schistosoma mansoni infection has been clearly established, this link remains poorly explored for S. haematobium infections ( Sh ). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between genetic background and morbidity associated with urogenital schistosomiasis using a candidate gene approach. We analyzed urine samples from 334 Beninese men, measuring urinary eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) by ELISA as a marker for bladder inflammation. Abdominopelvic ultrasonography was performed in a subgroup of 146 participants (69 Sh -positive and 77 Sh -negative) to assess morbidities associated with Schistosoma infection. Blood samples were analyzed for TNF-α levels by ELISA and for TNF-α promoter polymorphisms by sequencing to assess associations between genetic variation and morbidity. Results showed that 25.4% of Sh + had significantly higher mean TNF-α (U = 5888; p = 0.0098) and ECP (U = 912.5; p < 0.0001) levels than Sh −. Positive correlations were observed between egg count and both ECP (Tau = 0.4016; p < 0.0001) and TNF-α levels (Tau = 0.2238; p = 0.014). Morbidity mainly included bladder irregularities (6%), thickening (29%), and kidney dilation (6%). The G mutant allele on the rs3093660 marker was significantly associated with morbidity (χ 2 = 4.47; p = 0.034; OR = 5.09 [95% CI: 1.04–24.9]). Our results suggest, for the first time, that carriers of the G mutant allele at rs3093660 marker have a five-fold increased risk of developing severe urogenital schistosomiasis.