We evaluated the profile of interleukin (IL)-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) of 35 volunteers infected with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in three human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) endemic communities in Abraka, Nigeria. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly higher in strongly positives than control subjects (P<0.001).The difference in serum IL-10 concentrations between early and late stages of infection was statistically significant (P<0.001). Significant elevation of CSF IL-10 concentrations was observed for HAT late stage (P<0.001). The level of TNF-α for weakly positive, moderately positive and strongly positive were significantly elevated when compared with the control subjects at χ 2 =6.37, P>0.01; χ 2 =22.79, P<0.001, χ 2=35.57, P<0.001, respectively. The mean difference in serum TNF-α concentrations between early and late stages of infection was statistically significant (P<0.0001) but not significant for CSF TNF- α levels (P>0.05). We therefore suggest that the elevated levels of IL-10 and TNF-α may implicate these cytokines as mediators of host response to HAT infection in our locality.
