Efficient control of <i>Leishmania</i> and <i>Strongyloides</i> despite partial suppression of nematode‐induced Th2 response in co‐infected mice

Abstract

Endemic regions for the pathogenic nematode Strongyloides and parasitic protist Leishmania overlap and therefore co-infections with both parasites frequently occur. As the Th2 and Th1 immune responses necessary to efficiently control Strongyloides and Leishmania infections are known to counterregulate each other, we analysed the outcome of co-infection in the murine system. Here, we show that Leishmania major-specific Th1 responses partially suppressed the nematode-induced Th2 response in co-infected mice. Despite this modulation, successful expulsion of gut dwelling Strongyloides was not suppressed in mice with pre-existing or subsequent Leishmania infection. A pre-existing Strongyloides infection, in contrast, did not interfere with efficient type-1 responses but even increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Also, control of L. major infections was not affected by pre-existing nematode infection. Taken together, we provide evidence that simultaneous presence of helminth and protist parasites did not interfere with efficient host defence in our co-infection model.