Pre-vaccination Schistosoma mansoni and hookworm infections are associated with altered vaccine immune responses: a longitudinal analysis among adolescents living in helminth-endemic islands of Lake Victoria, Uganda

Abstract

Variations in vaccine responses have been observed between populations. A role for helminth infections has been proposed due to their immunomodulatory properties. In a secondary analysis of data from a randomised trial assessing effects of anthelminthic treatment on vaccine responses, we examined associations between helminth infections at baseline prior to vaccine administration, and vaccine responses among adolescents (9-17 years) in Koome Islands, Lake Victoria, Uganda.