HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (17) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by MWANAKASALE, V. Articles by TANNER, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by MWANAKASALE, V. Articles by TANNER, M.

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM AND HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1: THE EFFECTS OF COINFECTION ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES IN RURAL ZAMBIA

A prospective cohort study was conducted in two villages in Zambia to compare the efficacy of praziquantel in the treatment of schistosomiasis haematobium in people with and without concomitant infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Five hundred seven individuals with infected with Schistosoma haematobium were enrolled and followed-up for as long as 12 months after treatment with a single dose of praziquantel. Seventy-three were coinfected with HIV. The study demonstrated that praziquantel is still very effective in the treatment and control of S. haematobium even when there is coinfection with HIV (without symptoms and signs of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]/HIV disease). Resistance to reinfection with S. haematobium is not altered in subjects coinfected with HIV (without symptoms and signs of AIDS/HIV disease). Individuals with coinfection excreted fewer eggs and complained less of hematuria than those without HIV infection, and the sensitivity and positive predictive value of reported hematuria as an indication of heavy infection were lower in the group coinfected with HIV. This observation may have implications for the use of hematuria as an indicator for rapid diagnosis of schistosomiasis in areas where HIV is prevalent.

Received July 3, 2002. Accepted for publication July 1, 2003.

Acknowledgments: We thank the populations of Kawama and Milopa villages for participating in the study; Drs. E. Kafwembe, R. Banda, and C. Banda for their support and assistance in the execution of the fieldwork; the nurses at Kakoso and Chawama clinics for their assistance; and the teachers at Kawama and Milopa schools for their help. We also thank Dr. Rosemary Musonda for facilitating the HIV testing of the blood samples, Dr. M. Stehata and Mr. J. Chiima for their assistance in selecting the study villages, and A. Katenga for her tireless dedication to the logistics of the study. Special thanks are given to Drs. Mushaukwa Mukunyandela and S. Wayling for their support of the study. We are also grateful to Jennifer Jenkins for critically reading the manuscript and very helpful suggestions.

Financial support: This work was supported by a World Health Organization (WHO)/TDR grant.

Authors’ addresses: Victor Mwanakasale, MacDuff Ziba, and Arthur Ernest, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, PO Box 71769, Ndola, Zambia, Telephone: 260-097-804-740, Fax: 260-2-621-112, E-mail: vicsale{at}zamtel.zm. Penelope Vounatsou and Marcel Tanner, Swiss Tropical Institute, PO Box, CH 4002 Basel, Switzerland, Telephone: 41-61-284-8282, Fax: 41-61-271-7951, E-mails: Penelope.Vounatsou{at}unibas.ch and Marcel.Tanner{at}unibas.ch. Thomas Y. Sukwa, World Health Organization/Africa Regional Office, Harare, Zimbabwe.