Gastrointestinal Helminth Infections in HIV Seropositive and Seronegative Patients in Dschang, Cameroon

Background: Helminth infections are widely spread around the world and constitute a major public health problem. They present one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide with a greater proportion occurring in the less developed areas of the world like Sub-Saharan Africa. This area has the highest regional prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the world. Due to the overlapping geographical distribution of these infections, coinfection between helminths and HIV are likely to be common. Little has been reported on the relationship between HIV status and the presence of these parasites in Dschang.
Aim: This study was undertaken to determine and compare prevalence and intensity of helminth infections between Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infected (seropositives) or non infected (seronegatives) patients.
Methods: Patients were recruited using the registration number at their arrival in the District and Saint Vincent de Paul hospitals of Dschang. For each subject, stool and blood samples were collected. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of stool samples were carried out using Willis and McMaster techniques respectively. As for serological analysis of HIV/AIDS, the test was done using DETERMINE HIV1/HIV2 rapid test and IMMUNOCOMB test for confirmation.
Results: Five hundred and seventy (570) patients were recruited following inclusion criteria. One hundred and seven (107) were seropositives and four hundred and sixty three (463) seronegatives. The overall prevalence of helminthic infections was 23.11%. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm and Capillaria hepatica were found with respective prevalences of 10.9%, 6.8%, 3.2% and 0.2%. The general prevalences were 10.28% and 20.73% for HIV seropositives and seronegatives respectively. The mean intensities of infection were 182.25±566.12, 130.95±153.79, 91.66±104.67 and 50±0.00 epg for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, hookworm and C. hepatica respectively. In seropositives, these values were 50±0.00, 68.75±88.30, 50±0.00 and 0±0.00 epg while in seronegatives; they were 282.41±831.46, 145.59±167.59, 94.11±107.35 and 50±0.00 epg for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, hookworm and C. hepatica, respectively. Seropositives were statistically significant (p<0.05) less infected with helminths than seronegatives. Elsewhere, the mean intensities of infection were lower in seropositives than in seronegatives.
Conclusion: The prevalence and parasite loads are fewer in seropositives than in seronegatives. Therefore, harboring HIV is not associated with increasing in helminths prevalence.