ABSTRACT

Aim: To determine the levels of IL-10 and IL-12 in children infected with Leishmaniadonovani.

Methods: This study was conducted in Kirkuk governorate in the period from January to June 2018 and included 33 children suffering from acute visceral leishmaniasis, as they were from one to 12 years old, and Yen were attending pediatric clinics in the city of Kirkuk during that period.

Results: The study also included forty healthy children (uninfected) who were reviewing health centers for the purpose of vaccinations, in order to ensure that they did not complain of any symptoms or signs of any disease. Affected children, or meaning persons suspected of being infected, were selected based on clinical signs and diagnostic tests. The study included the collection of blood samples from all children in the study, therefore, for the purpose of investigating antibodies to the parasite, and the levels of IL-10 and IL-12 were detected using the ELISA.The study showed that majority of children with suspected VL infection (96.97%) were positive to Leishmaniadonovani IgM antibodies (by ELISA) while no one of the control group have positive result. The study was highly significant (P <0.01).The study demonstrated that most children with VL infection were belonged to age group 4-6 and 7-9 years and the male gender was the predominant through infected children.The study showed that IL-10 was elevated more frequently in children with Leishmaniadonovani infection as compared with healthy control children (62.12±6.81 versus 10.14 ± 1.19 pg/ml).The study showed that IL-12 was reduced significantly in children with Leishmaniadonovani infection as compared with healthy control children (6.33±2.19 versus 122.18±3.69 pg/ml).

Conclusion: It was concluded that there was a significant relation of visceral leishmaniasis with IL-10 and IL-12.

It was concluded that there was a significant relation of visceral leishmaniasis with IL-10 and IL-12.

Keyword: Leishmaniadonovani; Kala azar, IL-10; IL-12; Visceral leishmaniasis