Prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasite infections in HIV seropositive individuals on antiretroviral therapy in Vom, Plateau State Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The immunologic status of an individual can determine outcomes of treatment and their capacity to combat opportunistic infections. Co-infection with other parasites will confound the situation; however there is inadequate information on the interaction of HIV and helminth infections. We wanted to establish the relationship of the immunologic status and the prevalence of intestinal parasites in HIV/AIDS patients enrolled for antiretroviral therapy at the Vom Christian health centre.

Materials & Methods: With their consent, stool samples of 205 subjects were collected and examined parasitologically by direct microscopy and concentration techniques. Their most resent CD4+ cell counts were obtained at the centre. The demographic characteristics of the subjects were determined from their response to a questionaire.

Results: Out of the 205 subjects examined 61.9% of them had various parasites with helminthes occurring in 51.9% of the cases. The age group of 31-40 years was the most significantly infected (P< 0.05). Hookworms and Schistosoma mansonii were most frequent with prevalence rates of 18.1% and 16.5% respectively. The highest prevalence of parasites occurred in HIV/AIDS people with CD4+ cells between 101-200 cells/μ and those with counts below 100 cells/al.Occupation was highly associated with parasitic infections (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: Parasitic infection remained highly prevalent among the subjects examined in spite of ART treatment and in the case of intense infection in the immunocompromised, treatment outcome may be compromised.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Parasites, ART, Coinfection