<i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> infection suppresses the growth of <i>Plasmodium yoelii</i> parasites in the liver and reduces gametocyte infectivity to mosquitoes

<div><p>Malaria and schistosomiasis are major parasitic diseases causing morbidity and mortality in the tropics. Epidemiological surveys have revealed coinfection rates of up to 30% among children in Sub-Saharan Africa. To investigate the impact of coinfection of these two parasites on disease epidemiology and pathology, we carried out coinfection studies using <i>Plasmodium yoelii</i> and <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> in mice. Malaria parasite growth in the liver following sporozoite inoculation is significantly inhibited in mice infected with <i>S</i>. <i>mansoni</i>, so that when low numbers of sporozoites are inoculated, there is a large reduction in the percentage of mice that go on to develop blood stage malaria. Furthermore, gametocyte infectivity is much reduced in mice with <i>S</i>. <i>mansoni</i> infections. These results have profound implications for understanding the interactions between <i>Plasmodium</i> and <i>Schistosoma</i> species, and have implications for the control of malaria in schistosome endemic areas.</p>