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

Objectives: 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.Methodology: The plasma concentration of lipids and the fractions with the urine microscopy of one hundred(IOO) subjects who had evidence of Schistosomiasis, selected from I lie, 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. Results: 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). Conclusion: 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.