This work aimed to study the T helper type 1/2 (Th
1/Th
2) cytokine profile in a co-infection murine model of
Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi
and
Leishmania infantum
. Expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) was analyzed, in spleen and liver of C57BL/6 mice, by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. High levels of IFN-γ expression did not prevent the progression of
Leishmania in co-infected mice and
Leishmania infection did not interfere with the Th
1/Th
2 switch necessary for
Plasmodium control. The presence of IL-4 at day 28 in co-infected mice, essential for
Plasmodium elimination, was probably a key factor on the exacerbation of the
Leishmania infection.
