IL5 and schistosomiasis: Smp40 has been cloned, sequenced and shown to have high immunogenicity in humans.14 The Sjp40 antigen may be a promising target for prevention and control of the disease following its discovery as a marker for early schistosomiasis diagnosis.15 Sjp40 has also been observed to markedly increase IL-10 and significantly reduce IL-5 in Smp40-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients infected with S. japonicum.16 In addition, other studies have been carried out that support a role for IL-10 and IL-5 in hepatic fibrosis.