Interferon alpha (IFN-ɑ) among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients exposed to Plasmodium falciparum infection in selected Hospitals in Niger State, Nigeria

Both Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection are associated with production of several cytokines such as type I Interferons which may be beneficial to the host during acute infection. The plasma level of type I interferons could vary among HIV patients co-infected with P. falciparum. This study therefore, aims to quantify the level of IFN-α, a type 1 interferon, among HIV patients exposed to P. falciparum infection in selected Hospitals in Niger State, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study. Blood samples were collected from 300 HIV patients for blood film microscopy using Giemsa staining technique and CD4 count using flow cytometer. Of these, 65 were selected for IFN-α analysis (22 controls and 43 HIV/P. falciparum patients) determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). (Chi-square test, P < 0.05). Higher levels of IFN-α were observed in patients with mild P. falciparum infection and in those with low CD4 below 200 cells/µL. Conclusively, mild P. falciparum infection in HIV patients is characterized by up-regulated IFN-α activity.