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Parasitology research
Aug 09, 2024;123 (8): 297.

Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and Opisthorchis viverrini coinfections: insights into immune responses and clinical outcomes.

Lakhanawan Charoensuk, Somchai Pinlaor, Boonpeng Nimala, Sutas Suttiprapa, Suksanti Prakobwong
Author Information
  1. Lakhanawan Charoensuk: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand.
  2. Somchai Pinlaor: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
  3. Boonpeng Nimala: Nam-Phon Hospital of Health Promotion, Nong Wua Sor District, Udon Thani, 41360, Thailand.
  4. Sutas Suttiprapa: Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
  5. Suksanti Prakobwong: Department of Biology, Geoinformatics, Environment and Health Science Research Group, Faculty of Science, Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Udon Thani, 41000, Thailand. suksanti.pr@udru.ac.th.
PMID: 39120805 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08317-8

Abstract

The effects of co-infections with SARS-CoV-2 and parasitic diseases have been little investigated in terms of immune response, disease dynamics, and clinical outcomes. This study aimed to explore the impact of co-infection with Opisthorchis viverrini and SARS-CoV-2 on the immune response concerning clinical symptoms and the severity of pulmonary abnormalities. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including healthy participants as controls, participants with opisthorchiasis, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a co-infection group with both diseases. Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection were assessed based on clinical parameters and severity of pulmonary abnormalities, whereas opisthorchiasis burden was evaluated by eggs-per-gram (EPG) counts. Immune responses were assessed by measuring levels of interferon-�� (IFN-��), SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG, and neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2. In the co-infected group, clinical parameters and hospitalization rates were lower than in the SARS-CoV-2 group. Pulmonary abnormalities, such as bronchial fibrosis, were commonly observed in the SARS-CoV-2 group, leading to hospitalization in some cases. Participants with opisthorchiasis had higher IFN-�� levels than healthy individuals. IFN-�� levels were significantly lower in the co-infection group compared with the SARS-CoV-2 group (P���=���0.002). There was a significant (P���=���0.044) positive correlation between RBD-specific IgG and percent neutralization levels in the SARS-CoV-2 group. Levels of both were somewhat lower (not statistically significant) in the co-infection group. A negative correlation was observed between opisthorchiasis burden (EPG counts) and IFN-�� and RBD-specific IgG levels in the co-infected group. Following vaccination, the increase in IgG levels against the RBD protein was significantly lower in the co-infected group than in the SARS-CoV-2 group. These results suggest that O. viverrini infection suppresses immune responses and may lead to a reduction in severity in cases of SARS-CoV-2 co-infection.

Keywords

Opisthorchis viverrini Clinical outcomes Immune responses SARS-CoV-2 infection Severity

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MeSH Term

Humans
COVID-19
Opisthorchiasis
Coinfection
Animals
Male
Opisthorchis
Female
Cross-Sectional Studies
SARS-CoV-2
Adult
Middle Aged
Interferon-gamma
Antibodies, Neutralizing
Immunoglobulin G
Aged
Antibodies, Viral
Antibodies, Helminth

Chemicals

Interferon-gamma
Antibodies, Neutralizing
Immunoglobulin G
Antibodies, Viral
Antibodies, Helminth
Journal Article

Word Cloud

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