Lipid profile of subjects infected with Schistosoma haematobium in South-Western Nigeria

ABSTRACT

To determine the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] in Schistosoma haematobium- infected subjects and healthy persons. The plasma concentration of lipids and the fractions with the urine microscopy of one hundred [100] subjects who had evidence of Schistosomiasis, selected from 14C, a rural area in Osun State, Nigeria and one hundred [100] healthy controls selected randomly in Osogbo, an urban centre in Osun State, Nigeria were determined. The age of the subjects ranged between 7-13 years with mean +/- SD of 11.00 [ +/- 1.69] years and 10.5 [ +/- 2.01] years for test subjects and controls respectively. The mean plasma concentration of triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] were significantly lower among S. haematobium-infected subjects than in controls irrespective of the age and sex [p<0.01]. Significantly lower plasma lipid levels found in infected subjects lend support to the hypothesis that schistosome eggs probably contribute to alteration of lipid profile through enhancing of LDL-uptake by macrophages