## 5 Conclusions  
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first laboratory animal study that has investigated changes in the cytokines, chemokines insulin and haematological parameters indices of T2 DM-induced SD rats infected with _T. zimbabweensis_ (a tissue-dwelling helminth parasite). This study showed differences in the establishment of adult worms and larvae of _T. zimbabweensis_ with significantly low burdens in the TzD group when compared with the Tz group. Additionally, glucose levels were influenced by _T. zimbabweensis_ infection, with the TzD group recording low levels of blood glucose compared to the D group. The increase in insulin levels recorded in the TzD in our study is an indication that _T. zimbabweensis_ ML influences glucose metabolism and ML migration may favour muscle glucose uptake by inhibiting glucose metabolism and glycogenolysis. The increase in RBC, haematocrit, haemoglobin, WBC, platelet, neutrophils, and monocyte were observed in the D in comparison to the TzD group. TNF-\(\alpha\), IFN-\(\gamma\), IL-4 and IL-13 concentrations were elevated in the TzD when compared to the D ad Tz groups. IL-10 showed a significant increase in the TzD group in comparison to the Tz group, while IL-6 also showed a reduction in the Tz group in comparison to the D and the TzD groups. Additionally, CXCL10 and CCL11 concentration showed an increase in the TzD group in comparison to the Tz and the D groups. Elevated CCL5 in the D and TzD groups was observed in comparison to the Tz group.  
A comparison of the results of haematological, cytokine, chemokine, insulin, and glucose indices from our study groups strongly support that the _T. zimbabweensis_ parasite has the capability to regulate T2 DM-driven inflammation to mediate a positive protective effect against T2 DM outcomes. The production of high pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-\(\alpha\), IFN-\(\gamma\), and IL-6 play a vital role in the destruction of pancreatic \(\beta\)-cells, and insulin resistance in adipose tissue (AT), as well as liver and muscle. Additionally, elevated levels of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13 play a crucial role in the regulation of gastrointestinal homeostasis, which leads to whole body metabolic homeostasis, and it has also been shown that IL-4 can directly reduce ongoing Th1-driven autoimmune inflammation. Helminth infection influences the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and this cytokine plays an important role in protecting against T2 DM as well as promoting the survival of the parasite and reduced the risk of inflammatory injury in the host. Chemokines such as CCL5 is involved in the destruction of immune cells into essential tissues, and CXCL10 and CCL11 plays a role in islet inflammation [PERSON] et al. [11]. Our data also strongly support recommendations made from similar studies using different helminth species that helminth infection could offer novel therapeutic approaches to treating inflammatory metabolic diseases. The authors, therefore, recommend further studies to unravel the various mechanisms underlying the immunoregulation during the process of comorbidity, and _T. zimbabweensis_ is an ideal parasite for use in animal model studies.  
Conceptualization, E.S., S.M. and S.I.T.; methodology, E.S.; experiment and data collection, E.S.; writing--original draft preparation, E.S.; Edited the manuscript: S.M. and S.I.T.; supervision, S.M. and S.I.T. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by the Nation Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa as part of PhD studies for [PERSON], grant number (UID-113074), and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) grant number 41011-2020.