Parasitology and Covid-19: epidemiological, immunological, pathological, and therapeutic aspects

Kamyar Nasiri; Zohreh Mortezania; Sanaz Oftadehbalani; Mohammad Khosousi Sani; Amin Daemi; Seyyedeh Touran Hosseini; Yusuf Döğüş; Zafer Yönden; Kamyar Nasiri; Zohreh Mortezania; Sanaz Oftadehbalani; Mohammad Khosousi Sani; Amin Daemi; Seyyedeh Touran Hosseini; Yusuf Döğüş; Zafer Yönden

doi:10.3934/Allergy.2023007

AIMS Allergy and Immunology

2023, Volume 7, Issue 1: 92-103. doi: 10.3934/Allergy.2023007

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Review

Parasitology and Covid-19: epidemiological, immunological, pathological, and therapeutic aspects

1.
Department of Dentistry, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2.
Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3.
Infectious Diseases Specialist, Fatemeh Zahra Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Resident, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
6.
Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey

Received: 07 June 2022 Revised: 22 December 2022 Accepted: 02 February 2023 Published: 03 March 2023

Studies suggest that there is a complex interaction between parasitic infections, human microbiota, and host immunity. Reports have shown that there is the prevalence of viral diseases have inverse correlations with their severities (as is the case for Covid-19), their resulting mortalities, and helminth infections in endemic areas. This review study was conducted to discover the possible association between parasitic infections and Covid-19 epidemics from immunological, pathological, and therapeutic aspects. Our studies were conducted by reviewing texts, reports, and articles on reputable websites such as PubMed, Science Direct, medRxvi, Google Scholar, and bioRxiv published by 2022 07 April for keywords such as a parasite, helminth, radioactive, COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2. In particular, reports of co-infection with helminths with complications and severity of Covid-19 in endemic areas were considered. The findings indicate that parasitic helminths can regulate host immune responses associated with a viral infection. For example, intestinal parasitic infections may be effective in reducing the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and the complications of Covid-19. Infected hosts can induce an innate and Th2-compatible immune response to CD4⁺ T cells, eosinophils, and interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10). Chronic helminth infections prevent strong immune responses by altering the host response to T helper 2 (Th2). Interestingly, some antimalarial drugs, such as Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), may inhibit SARS-CoV-2-induced severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Parasitic infections may alter the host's immune response to SARS-CoV-2 with potentially beneficial or detrimental effects. However, more large-scale epidemiological studies are needed to uncover the links between parasitic infections and COVID-19 and to clarify existing ambiguities.
- Parasitology,
- Covid-19,
- Immunology,
- Pathology,
- treatment
Citation: Kamyar Nasiri, Zohreh Mortezania, Sanaz Oftadehbalani, Mohammad Khosousi Sani, Amin Daemi, Seyyedeh Touran Hosseini, Yusuf Döğüş, Zafer Yönden. Parasitology and Covid-19: epidemiological, immunological, pathological, and therapeutic aspects[J]. AIMS Allergy and Immunology, 2023, 7(1): 92-103. doi: 10.3934/Allergy.2023007

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Abstract

Studies suggest that there is a complex interaction between parasitic infections, human microbiota, and host immunity. Reports have shown that there is the prevalence of viral diseases have inverse correlations with their severities (as is the case for Covid-19), their resulting mortalities, and helminth infections in endemic areas. This review study was conducted to discover the possible association between parasitic infections and Covid-19 epidemics from immunological, pathological, and therapeutic aspects. Our studies were conducted by reviewing texts, reports, and articles on reputable websites such as PubMed, Science Direct, medRxvi, Google Scholar, and bioRxiv published by 2022 07 April for keywords such as a parasite, helminth, radioactive, COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2. In particular, reports of co-infection with helminths with complications and severity of Covid-19 in endemic areas were considered. The findings indicate that parasitic helminths can regulate host immune responses associated with a viral infection. For example, intestinal parasitic infections may be effective in reducing the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and the complications of Covid-19. Infected hosts can induce an innate and Th2-compatible immune response to CD4⁺ T cells, eosinophils, and interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10). Chronic helminth infections prevent strong immune responses by altering the host response to T helper 2 (Th2). Interestingly, some antimalarial drugs, such as Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), may inhibit SARS-CoV-2-induced severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Parasitic infections may alter the host's immune response to SARS-CoV-2 with potentially beneficial or detrimental effects. However, more large-scale epidemiological studies are needed to uncover the links between parasitic infections and COVID-19 and to clarify existing ambiguities.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare there is no conflict of interest.

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