Cluster of differentiation expressions among Nigerians with Ascaris lumbricoides infection.

Clusters of differentiation (CDs) are membrane proteins expressed on cells of the immune system and are associated with parasitic infection. Most of the work on CD expressions to helminth infection has mainly been on mouse model. Thus there is a dearth of information on the influence of Ascaris lumbricoides to CD expressions in human blood. White blood cell (WBC), eosinophil and platelet numbers were estimated alongside their CD14, CD40 and CD130 concentrations in A. lumbricoides-infected human subjects. Similarly, serum CD levels in relation to Ascaris-infected and helminth co-infected with healthy controls were estimated. The relationship between Ascaris load and CD profile was also shown. Our data indicated that >6 eosinophil-counts group expressed raised mean level of CD14 with a highly depressed mean CD40. Furthermore, mean CD40 for individuals with low platelet count was highly depressed. Additional analysis of infected vs control and the correlation of CD levels with parasite load showed null effect of A. lumbricoides on CD14 and CD40 expressions. Meanwhile, CD130 was raised as platelet number and parasite load increased. Thus the involvement of CD130 in the immuno-pathology of Ascariasis is likely. CD130 could therefore be a marker of infection and a potential target for improved anthelminthic therapy.