Cytokine and chemokine responses to helminth and protozoan parasites and to fungus and mite allergens in neonates, children, adults, and the elderly

Table 1 Prevalence of parasite infections and parasite co-infections in children, adults and elderly

	Children	Adults	Elderly
	(n=35)	(n=39)	(n=42)
Schistosoma haematobium/S. mansoni	33%	8%	2%
Hookworm	22%	26%	34%
Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar	22%	37%	55%
Mansonella perstans	0%	24%	25%
Infection-free	37%	29%	21%
Single parasite infection	22%	37%	41%
Multiple parasite infections	41%	34%	38%

Fresh stool samples were analyzed by microscopy for intestinal helminth eggs as well as protozoan cysts and trophozoites, and all stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz technique. Schistosoma haematobium eggs were detected by filtration of urine samples and subsequent microscopic examination of filters, while microfilaria of Mansonella perstans were detected by microscopic analysis after gradient density centrifugation of whole blood samples as detailed in Materials and Methods.

ISSN: 1742-4933