_applied sciences_  
_Article_  
**Cytokines, Chemokines, Insulin and Haematological Indices in Type 2 Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats Infected with**  
_Trichinella zimbabweensis_  
**[PERSON] 1,\({}^{*}\), [PERSON] 2 and [PERSON] 1,3**  
1 School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Westville Campus,  
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
2 Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Pretoria,  
Ondertsepoor 0110, South Africa; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
3 One Health Center for Zooneses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine,  
Ross University, Bassetere KN0101, Saint Kitts and Nevis  
*Correspondence: [PERSON]  
**Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease induced by the inability to control high blood glucose level. Helminth-induced immunomododulation has been reported to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM), which, in turn, ameliorates insulin sensitivity. Therefore, there is a need to understand the underlying mechanisms utilized by helminths in metabolism and the induction of immuno-inflammatory responses during helminthic infection and T2 DM comorbidity. This study aimed at using a laboratory animal model to determine the cytokines, chemokines and haematological indices in diabetic (T2 DM) male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats infected with _Trichinella zimbabweensis_. One hundred and two male SD rats (160-180 g) were randomly selected into three experimental groups (i. T2 DM-induced group (D) ii. T. _zimbabweensis_ infected + T2 DM group (TzD) and iii. T. _zimbabweensis_-infected group (Tz)). Rats selected for the D group and TzD group were injected with 40 mg/kg live weight of streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneallyally to induce T2 DM, while animals in the Tz and TzD group were infected with _T. zimbabweensis_. Results showed that adult T. _zimbabweensis_ worm loads and mean _T. zimbabweensis_ larvae per gram (Ipg) of rat muscle were significantly higher (_p_ < 0.001) in the Tz group when compared to the TzD group. Blood glucose levels in the D group were significantly higher (_p_ < 0.001) compared to the TzD group. An increase in insulin concentration was observed among the TzD group when compared to the D group. Liver and muscle glycogen decreased in the D when compared to the TzD group. A significant increase (_p_ < 0.05) in red blood cells (RBCs) was observed in the D group when compared to the TzD and Tz groups. An increase in haematocrit, haemoglobin, white blood cells (WBCs), platelet, neutrophils and monocyte were observed in the D group when compared to the TzD group. TNF-\(\alpha\), IFN-\(\gamma\), IL-\(\gamma\), IL-\(\gamma\) and IL-\(\gamma\) concentrations were elevated in the TzD group when compared to the D and Tz groups, while IL-\(\gamma\) concentration showed a significant reduction in the Tz when compared to the D and the TzD groups. A significant increase in CCL5 in the D and TzD groups was observed in comparison to the Tz group. CXCL10 and CCL11 concentration also showed an increase in the TzD group in comparison to the Tz and the D groups. Overall, our results confirm that _T. zimbabweensis_, a parasite which produces tissue-dwelling larvae in the host, regulates T2 DM driven inflammation to mediate a positive protective effect against T2 DM outcomes.  
**Keywords:** comorbidity; type 2 diabetes mellitus; haematological indices; insulin; cytokines; chemokines; helminths; immune response; _Trichinella zimbabweensis_