Association between CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and fecal excretion of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in patients coinfected with S. mansoni and human immunodeficiency virus before and after initiation of antiretroviral therapy

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Jul;89(1):42-5. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0045. Epub 2013 May 13.

Abstract

Previously, we have shown that persons with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection and reduced CD4(+) T-lymphocyte counts excrete significantly fewer Schistosoma mansoni eggs than HIV-1-negative persons with similar intensities of schistosome infections. To determine how antiretroviral therapy (ART) might affect egg excretion, we conducted a study of HIV+ adults living in an area highly endemic for S. mansoni as they began an ART program. Fecal egg excretion and CD4(+) T-lymphocyte counts were evaluated at enrollment as well as 2 and 4 weeks after initiation of ART. Fourteen individuals who were Kato-Katz-negative at enrollment subsequently started excreting S. mansoni eggs accompanied by a significant increase in CD4(+) T lymphocytes (P = 0.004). Study participants who were S. mansoni egg-positive at enrollment and received both praziquantel and ART also showed significantly increased CD4(+) T-lymphocyte counts compared with baseline (P < 0.0001). Our data support a role for CD4(+) T lymphocytes in S. mansoni egg excretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
  • Coinfection / drug therapy
  • Coinfection / parasitology
  • Coinfection / virology
  • Feces / parasitology*
  • Feces / virology
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / parasitology
  • HIV-1
  • Humans
  • Parasite Egg Count*
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use
  • Schistosoma mansoni
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / complications*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / drug therapy
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / parasitology
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / virology

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Praziquantel