tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Infect Dis
. 2022 Jan 22;22(1):78.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-022-07064-4.
Low incidence of COVID-19 case severity and mortality in Africa; Could malaria co-infection provide the missing link?
Silas Acheampong Osei[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Robert Peter Biney[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberta Serwah Anning[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Lydia Nkuah Nortey[SUP] 2 [/SUP], George Ghartey-Kwansah[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Despite reports of malaria and coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) co-infection, malaria-endemic regions have so far recorded fewer cases of COVID-19 and deaths from COVID-19, indicating a probable protection from the poor outcome of COVID-19 by malaria. On the contrary, other evidence suggests that malaria might contribute to the death caused by COVID-19. Hence, this paper reviewed existing evidence hypothesizing poor outcome or protection of COVID-19 patients when co-infected with malaria.
Methods: PRISMA guidelines for systematic review were employed in this study. Published articles from December 2019 to May 2021on COVID-19 and malaria co-infection and outcome were systematically searched in relevant and accessible databases following a pre-defined strategy. Studies involving human, in vivo animal studies, and in vitro studies were included.
Results: Twenty three (23) studies were included in the review out of the 3866 records identified in the selected scientific databases. Nine (9) papers reported on co-infection of COVID-19 and malaria. Five (5) papers provided information about synergism of malaria and COVID-19 poor prognosis, 2 papers reported on syndemic of COVID-19 and malaria intervention, and 7 studies indicated that malaria protects individuals from COVID-19.
Conclusions: Low incidence of COVID-19 in malaria-endemic regions supports the hypothesis that COVID-19 poor prognosis is prevented by malaria. Although further studies are required to ascertain this hypothesis, cross-immunity and common immunodominant isotopes provide strong evidence to support this hypothesis. Also, increase in co-inhibitory receptors and atypical memory B cells indicate synergy between COVID-19 and malaria outcome, though, more studies are required to make a definite conclusion.
Keywords: COVID-19; Malaria; Malaria-COVID 19 co-infection; Plasmodium falciparum; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2022 Jan 22;22(1):78.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-022-07064-4.
Low incidence of COVID-19 case severity and mortality in Africa; Could malaria co-infection provide the missing link?
Silas Acheampong Osei[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Robert Peter Biney[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alberta Serwah Anning[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Lydia Nkuah Nortey[SUP] 2 [/SUP], George Ghartey-Kwansah[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35065613
- DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07064-4
Abstract
Background: Despite reports of malaria and coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) co-infection, malaria-endemic regions have so far recorded fewer cases of COVID-19 and deaths from COVID-19, indicating a probable protection from the poor outcome of COVID-19 by malaria. On the contrary, other evidence suggests that malaria might contribute to the death caused by COVID-19. Hence, this paper reviewed existing evidence hypothesizing poor outcome or protection of COVID-19 patients when co-infected with malaria.
Methods: PRISMA guidelines for systematic review were employed in this study. Published articles from December 2019 to May 2021on COVID-19 and malaria co-infection and outcome were systematically searched in relevant and accessible databases following a pre-defined strategy. Studies involving human, in vivo animal studies, and in vitro studies were included.
Results: Twenty three (23) studies were included in the review out of the 3866 records identified in the selected scientific databases. Nine (9) papers reported on co-infection of COVID-19 and malaria. Five (5) papers provided information about synergism of malaria and COVID-19 poor prognosis, 2 papers reported on syndemic of COVID-19 and malaria intervention, and 7 studies indicated that malaria protects individuals from COVID-19.
Conclusions: Low incidence of COVID-19 in malaria-endemic regions supports the hypothesis that COVID-19 poor prognosis is prevented by malaria. Although further studies are required to ascertain this hypothesis, cross-immunity and common immunodominant isotopes provide strong evidence to support this hypothesis. Also, increase in co-inhibitory receptors and atypical memory B cells indicate synergy between COVID-19 and malaria outcome, though, more studies are required to make a definite conclusion.
Keywords: COVID-19; Malaria; Malaria-COVID 19 co-infection; Plasmodium falciparum; SARS-CoV-2.