Asian Journal of Immunology

Background and Aim: Malaria is the most important parasitic disease of man, and it remains one of the major threats to public health and economic development in Africa. Interleukin-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine which has potent effects on innate and adaptive immunity.  This study was aimed at determining Interleukin-12 (p70) concentrations among malaria patients attending some hospitals in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Methods: A cross sectional hospital based study was conducted on consenting participants in Zaria. Four hundred blood samples were collected, from which Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films were prepared and examined for the presence of Plasmodium species by microscopy. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to determine concentrations of interleukin-12 (p70) in malaria positive samples and control samples.

Results: Males had higher malaria prevalence (37.2%) than females (24.7%). The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01). Pregnant women had a prevalence of 17.8% which was lower than the 27.9% obtained in non-pregnant women (P = 0.07), and the highest malaria prevalence (20.0%) was found in pregnant women in their third trimester (P = 0.65). Interleukin-12 (p70) was present at a significantly (P = 0.00) higher level in the plasma of participants in the malaria positive group than in the control group (those who tested negative for malaria).

Conclusion: Gender was significantly associated with malaria in this study. The prevalence of malaria was higher in males than females; males are therefore encouraged to take more precautions to prevent malaria. Despite the fact that the exact role of cytokines in malaria pathogenesis is unclear, we can infer from the findings of this study that more interleukin-12 (p70) is produced during malaria infection.