Rabiu Olawunmi R, Dada-Adegbola Hannah, Falade Catherine O, Arinola Olatunbosun G, Odaibo Alexander B, Ademowo Olusegun G
Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Int J MCH AIDS. 2021;10(1):81-87. doi: 10.21106/ijma.352. Epub 2020 Feb 19.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa with similarity in geographical distribution of major pathogens of public health interest. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of malaria and helminths on CD4 count, hematocrit values and viral load among HIV-infected pregnant women.
One hundred and ninety-seven HIV-infected pregnant women aged 18-45 years were recruited from a registered HIV clinic and questionnaires were administered for socio-demographic details. Screening for malaria parasites in blood was through microscopy while helminths were identified in stool using Kato-Katz method. Hematocrit levels were determined through centrifugation of blood collected in capillary tubes. At the time of recruitment, most recent CD4 count and viral load was obtained from the patients' case notes.
About three-quarters (73.6%) of the women had above primary school level of education while more than half (60.2%) were petty traders. The prevalence of malaria parasites in the blood samples was 24.9%, while 3% were infected with helminths. There was only a single case of malaria, helminths and HIV co-infection in the study group. Prevalence of anemia was 75.6% with eight cases (4.1%) of severe anemia. About 86.6% of the women with anemia had low CD4 count (χ= 8.801, p=0.032). The mean CD4 count was significantly lower among those with co-infection of malaria and HIV.
Malaria or helminth infection among HIV-infected women lowers the CD4 count and increases the viral load with little changes in hematocrit values. Routine screening of HIV-infected women for probable multiple infections will aid in improving their overall health and well-being.
人类免疫缺陷病毒/获得性免疫缺陷综合征（HIV/AIDS）在撒哈拉以南非洲广泛传播，与具有公共卫生意义的主要病原体的地理分布相似。本研究的目的是评估疟疾和蠕虫感染对HIV感染孕妇的CD4细胞计数、血细胞比容值和病毒载量的影响。
从一家注册的HIV诊所招募了197名年龄在18 - 45岁的HIV感染孕妇，并发放问卷收集社会人口学详细信息。通过显微镜检查血液中的疟原虫，使用加藤厚涂片法在粪便中鉴定蠕虫。通过对毛细管中采集的血液进行离心来测定血细胞比容水平。在招募时，从患者病历中获取最近的CD4细胞计数和病毒载量。
约四分之三（73.6%）的女性教育程度高于小学水平，而超过一半（60.2%）是小商贩。血液样本中疟原虫的感染率为24.9%，而3%的人感染了蠕虫。研究组中仅有1例疟疾、蠕虫和HIV合并感染病例。贫血患病率为75.6%，其中8例（4.1%）为重度贫血。约86.6%的贫血女性CD4细胞计数较低（χ = 8.801，p = 0.032）。疟疾和HIV合并感染的患者中，平均CD4细胞计数显著较低。
HIV感染女性中的疟疾或蠕虫感染会降低CD4细胞计数并增加病毒载量，而血细胞比容值变化不大。对HIV感染女性进行可能的多重感染的常规筛查将有助于改善她们的整体健康和福祉。
