Main Article Content
Human African Trypanosomiasis And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection In Western Kenya
Abstract
Objective: To determine possible interaction between infections of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness and HIV/AIDS in Western Kenya
Design: Random selection and testing for HIV infections of serum samples from HAT patients using an indirect single phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (EAIlmmunocomb ®II, oragenics)
Setting: National Sleeping Sickness Referral Hospital-Alupe.
Resuts: Four (16%) of the HAT serum samples (n=25) were found to be seropositive for HIV type 1 and 2 infections, while an additional four (16%) were sero-positive to HIV type 2 infections alone. In contrast, the patients from the local STD clinic showed that 52% (n=53) were seropositive for both HIV type 1 and 2 infections. No patient from the STD clinic was seropositive for HIV type 2 alone. Calculated Yates Chi square value of 17.31 (P>0.001) indicated a significant increase in HIV type 2 antibodies in T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients.
Results: Sixteen percent of the HAT serum samples (n=25) were found to be seropositive for HIV type 1 and 2 infections, while an additional 16% were sero-positive to HIV type 2 infections alone. In contrast, the patients from the local STD clinic showed that 52% (n=53) were seropositive for both HIV type 1 and 2 infections. No patient from the STD clinic was seropositive for HIV type 2 alone. Calculated Yates Chi square value of 17.31 (P < 0.001) indicated a significant increase in HIV type 2 antibodies in T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients.
Conclusion: T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness is an immuno-suppressive disease whose patients have shown a higher affinity to HIV type 2 infections more common in central and western Africa. Such patients when treated, appear to recover from HAT but later succumb to full-blown AIDS. It is recommended that CD4+ Tcell numbers and CD4/CD8 T cell ratios be assessed to investigate response to treatment in HIV positive HAT patients.
East African Medical Journal Vol.82(1) 2005: 20-23
Design: Random selection and testing for HIV infections of serum samples from HAT patients using an indirect single phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (EAIlmmunocomb ®II, oragenics)
Setting: National Sleeping Sickness Referral Hospital-Alupe.
Resuts: Four (16%) of the HAT serum samples (n=25) were found to be seropositive for HIV type 1 and 2 infections, while an additional four (16%) were sero-positive to HIV type 2 infections alone. In contrast, the patients from the local STD clinic showed that 52% (n=53) were seropositive for both HIV type 1 and 2 infections. No patient from the STD clinic was seropositive for HIV type 2 alone. Calculated Yates Chi square value of 17.31 (P>0.001) indicated a significant increase in HIV type 2 antibodies in T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients.
Results: Sixteen percent of the HAT serum samples (n=25) were found to be seropositive for HIV type 1 and 2 infections, while an additional 16% were sero-positive to HIV type 2 infections alone. In contrast, the patients from the local STD clinic showed that 52% (n=53) were seropositive for both HIV type 1 and 2 infections. No patient from the STD clinic was seropositive for HIV type 2 alone. Calculated Yates Chi square value of 17.31 (P < 0.001) indicated a significant increase in HIV type 2 antibodies in T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients.
Conclusion: T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness is an immuno-suppressive disease whose patients have shown a higher affinity to HIV type 2 infections more common in central and western Africa. Such patients when treated, appear to recover from HAT but later succumb to full-blown AIDS. It is recommended that CD4+ Tcell numbers and CD4/CD8 T cell ratios be assessed to investigate response to treatment in HIV positive HAT patients.
East African Medical Journal Vol.82(1) 2005: 20-23
