Co-infection with Schistosoma mansoni and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) among residents of fishing villages of north-western Tanzania
- PMID: 25511298
- PMCID: PMC4271490
- DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0587-2
Co-infection with Schistosoma mansoni and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) among residents of fishing villages of north-western Tanzania
Abstract
Background: Co-infection with S. mansoni and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) has been described in sub-Saharan Africa. However, few community-based studies have been conducted to assess the association between the two diseases. The present study examined whether the infection with HIV-1 is associated with an altered susceptibility to S. mansoni infection by comparing the prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni infection among those infected and not infected with HIV-1. Any influence of HIV-1 associated immunodeficiency on the intensity of S. mansoni infection was also investigated.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,785 randomly selected adults (aged 21-55 years) in fishing villages of north-western Tanzania. Single stool samples were obtained and examined for S. mansoni eggs using the Kato Katz technique. Finger prick and venous blood samples were collected for HIV-1 screening and CD4(+) cell quantification. Demographic information was collected by questionnaire.
Results: Of the 1,785 individuals from whom complete data were obtained, 854 (47.85%, 95% CI; 40.46 - 56.57) were infected with S. mansoni and had a mean intensity of 183.21(95% CI; 165.61-202.70) eggs per gram of faeces (epg). A total of 125 individuals (6.29%, 95% CI 3.59-11.04) were infected with HIV-1 and only 40% (n=50) of them were co-infected with S. mansoni. No differences in prevalence of S. mansoni infection or intensities of infection, as estimated by egg count (epg), were observed between HIV-1 sero-positive individuals and HIV-1 negative individuals. In generalized regression models (adjusted for sex, age, occupation, residence and level of education), being infected with HIV-1 did not increase the risk (APR=1.01, 95%; 0.83-1.21, P=0.93) or intensity (AOR = 0.84, 95% CI; 0.56-1.25, P = 0.33) of S. mansoni infection. Among individuals co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni infection, the intensity of infection (epg) was not associated (P = 0.21) or correlated (P = 0.13) with CD4(+) cell counts.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HIV-1 infection may not have a major effect on S. mansoni infection or on the excretion of eggs from the co-infected individuals. However, further studies are needed to understand the biological interaction between HIV-1 and S. mansoni in a large cohort of co-infected individuals.
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References
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- Secor WE. Interactions between schistosomiasis and infection with HIV-1. Parasite Immunol. 2006;28:597–603. - PubMed
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- Karanja DM, Colley DG, Nahlen BL, Ouma JH, Secor WE. Studies on schistosomiasis in western Kenya: I. Evidence for immune-facilitated excretion of schistosome eggs from patients with Schistosoma mansoni and human immunodeficiency virus coinfections. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1997;56(5):515–521. - PubMed
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