Investigating the role of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regions
BackgroundIndia alone contributes nearly 54% of the global load of new cases of leprosy and 21% to global helminthic parasitic infection cases. Research studies have suggested that Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection can regulate the host’s immune response and make them susceptible to leprosy....
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1499304/full |
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| author | Vikram Singh Vikram Singh Vikram Singh Ravindra P. Turankar Vinay Kumar Pathak Itu Singh Rahul Sharma Anjana Goel Utpal Sengupta |
| author_facet | Vikram Singh Vikram Singh Vikram Singh Ravindra P. Turankar Vinay Kumar Pathak Itu Singh Rahul Sharma Anjana Goel Utpal Sengupta |
| author_sort | Vikram Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundIndia alone contributes nearly 54% of the global load of new cases of leprosy and 21% to global helminthic parasitic infection cases. Research studies have suggested that Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection can regulate the host’s immune response and make them susceptible to leprosy. This study aimed to investigate the association between helminth infection and leprosy.Materials & MethodsStool samples (n=360) were collected from 96 patients and 264 household contacts (HHCs) from the endemic region in Purulia (West Bengal) and Champa (Chhattisgarh) India. Samples were examined microscopically for the presence of intestinal helminthic parasites; Cytokine profiling (IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-10) was performed by ELISA on a subset of helminth-positive and negative patients to assess immune responses.ResultsIntestinal parasites were detected in 26% of leprosy patients and 17% of HHCs. Male patients with helminth infection had a significantly higher risk of multibacillary leprosy (OR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.22–5.55; p = 0.019); no significant association was observed in females or overall, between cases and HHCs. IFN-γ levels were significantly reduced in helminth-positive cases (mean 19.70 pg/ml) compared to helminth-negative cases (mean 46.60 pg/ml; p < 0.02), indicating Th1 suppression. IL-12 and IL-10 levels did not differ significantly between groups. Over five years, 30 HHCs developed leprosy, but no significant association with baseline helminth status was observed (p = 0.816).ConclusionAlthough STH co-infection suppressed Th1 responses in leprosy patients, no direct population-level association with leprosy incidence was established. Integrated parasite control measures may complement leprosy programs by mitigating potential immunomodulatory risks, particularly in high-burden settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da9c0e64004c47c8aecf755f734e033a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-da9c0e64004c47c8aecf755f734e033a2025-08-20T03:24:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.14993041499304Investigating the role of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regionsVikram Singh0Vikram Singh1Vikram Singh2Ravindra P. Turankar3Vinay Kumar Pathak4Itu Singh5Rahul Sharma6Anjana Goel7Utpal Sengupta8Stanley Browne Laboratory, The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Community Hospital, New Delhi, IndiaDivision of Descriptive Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaStanley Browne Laboratory, The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Community Hospital, New Delhi, IndiaStanley Browne Laboratory, The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Community Hospital, New Delhi, IndiaStanley Browne Laboratory, The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Community Hospital, New Delhi, IndiaStanley Browne Laboratory, The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Community Hospital, New Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaStanley Browne Laboratory, The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Community Hospital, New Delhi, IndiaBackgroundIndia alone contributes nearly 54% of the global load of new cases of leprosy and 21% to global helminthic parasitic infection cases. Research studies have suggested that Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection can regulate the host’s immune response and make them susceptible to leprosy. This study aimed to investigate the association between helminth infection and leprosy.Materials & MethodsStool samples (n=360) were collected from 96 patients and 264 household contacts (HHCs) from the endemic region in Purulia (West Bengal) and Champa (Chhattisgarh) India. Samples were examined microscopically for the presence of intestinal helminthic parasites; Cytokine profiling (IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-10) was performed by ELISA on a subset of helminth-positive and negative patients to assess immune responses.ResultsIntestinal parasites were detected in 26% of leprosy patients and 17% of HHCs. Male patients with helminth infection had a significantly higher risk of multibacillary leprosy (OR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.22–5.55; p = 0.019); no significant association was observed in females or overall, between cases and HHCs. IFN-γ levels were significantly reduced in helminth-positive cases (mean 19.70 pg/ml) compared to helminth-negative cases (mean 46.60 pg/ml; p < 0.02), indicating Th1 suppression. IL-12 and IL-10 levels did not differ significantly between groups. Over five years, 30 HHCs developed leprosy, but no significant association with baseline helminth status was observed (p = 0.816).ConclusionAlthough STH co-infection suppressed Th1 responses in leprosy patients, no direct population-level association with leprosy incidence was established. Integrated parasite control measures may complement leprosy programs by mitigating potential immunomodulatory risks, particularly in high-burden settings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1499304/fullSTH infectionsleprosyimmunomodulationIFN-γmultibacillary leprosyIL-10 |
| spellingShingle | Vikram Singh Vikram Singh Vikram Singh Ravindra P. Turankar Vinay Kumar Pathak Itu Singh Rahul Sharma Anjana Goel Utpal Sengupta Investigating the role of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regions Frontiers in Immunology STH infections leprosy immunomodulation IFN-γ multibacillary leprosy IL-10 |
| title | Investigating the role of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regions |
| title_full | Investigating the role of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regions |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the role of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the role of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regions |
| title_short | Investigating the role of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regions |
| title_sort | investigating the role of soil transmitted helminth infections in the development of leprosy in endemic regions |
| topic | STH infections leprosy immunomodulation IFN-γ multibacillary leprosy IL-10 |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1499304/full |
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