A Study of Co-infections of HIV-1 and Schistosoma Mansoni and Its Impact on Praziquantel Treatment Outcomes

In this study, it is hypothesized that helminth infections modulate immune responses against HIV-1 infection resulting into increased HIV-1 multiplication, faster progression to AIDS and increased episodes of AIDS-related opportunistic infections. Furthermore, the effect of helminth infections on progression of HIV-1 infection is dependent on helminth infection intensity, host background immunity, nutritional status, demographic factors and socio-economic status. Also, treatment of helminth infections using praziquantel and albendazole among HIV-1 infected individuals will lead to reduction in HIV-1 viral loads, improvement of CD4+ counts, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and Hb levels, improved weight gain and reduction of episodes of HIV-1 related opportunistic infections. In addition, HIV-1 infection is associated with poor anthelminthic treatment outcome as compared to non-HIV infected individuals

The proposed study has the main objective to investigate the epidemiology of HIV-1 and Schistosoma mansoni co-infections and assess their association and progress of HIV positive individuals co-infected with S. mansoni. The study will also assess the impact of praziquantel treatment on S. mansoni related morbidities in co-infected HIV positive individuals with S. mansoni in Fishing villages, northwest Tanzania. The study is designed as a community based intervention trial, which consist of cross-sectional survey at the initial baseline survey followed by intervention trials. The initial baseline survey will include 2000 participants from the two villages. The objective of the survey is to determine the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and haemoglobin levels. Also, the socio-economic, demographic characteristics, individual behaviour in relation to HIV-1 and helminth transmission are recorded. In addition, the location and altitude of each household will determined using a hand-held Garmin GPSmap 60CSX, which has an accuracy of ± 5m. After initial survey, study participant will be grouped into 2 groups, one HIV-1 infected group and HIV-1 uninfected group. Blood sample for examination of CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and HIV-1 viral loads will be obtained from HIV-1 positive participants every month for a period of six month. After 6 month of prospective longitudinal survey, the first follow-up survey of the recruited study participants will be conducted with the objective of determining prevalence and intensity of human intestinal schistosomiasis and other helminth infections. Other infections will also be examined, includes malaria and viral hepatitis. Furthermore, S. mansoni induced morbidity will be examined using ultrasonography. A blood sample will also be obtained for all HIV-1 positive patients, from which CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and HIV-1 viral loads will be examined. In the same survey, individuals who tested HIV-1 negative at baseline will also be screened for HIV. After the first follow-up survey, three groups will be formed, Group A- individuals co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni (N=270); Group B- individuals infected with HIV-1 but S. mansoni negative (N=180) and Group C- HIV-1 negative but S. mansoni positive (N=1320) (Figure 2). All individuals who will be infected with S. mansoni and other helminth detected in the study irrespective of HIV-1 serostatus will be treated with praziquantel (40mg/kg) and albendazole (400mg). At six to eight weeks after mass treatment, a second survey will be conducted in the recruited participants aiming at determining cure rates of S. mansoni after chemotherapy with praziquantel. The third survey will be conducted 12 month after the first follow-up survey with the aim of determining the change in CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, HIV-1 viral loads, HIV-1 progression and reversibility of the S. mansoni related liver morbidity after praziquantel

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Permanent residents and those who have lived in the village for more than 2 years.
* HIV-1 positive individuals only those with CD4+ ≥ 400 cells/μl

Exclusion Criteria:

* HIV-1 positive individuals with CD4+ \< 350 cells/μl,
* Those who are on antiretroviral therapy (ARV)
* Pregnant women are excluded.
* Participants with chronic diseases such as leukemia, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis