Pillay Roxanne, Naidoo Pragalathan, Duma Zamathombeni, Bhengu Khethiwe N, Mpaka-Mbatha Miranda N, Nembe-Mafa Nomzamo, Mkhize-Kwitshana Zilungile L
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi, Durban 4031, South Africa.
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa.
Biology (Basel). 2024 Dec 15;13(12):1050. doi: 10.3390/biology13121050.
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bears a disproportionate and overlapping burden of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and sexually transmitted viral infections. An estimated 232 million pre-school and school-aged children in SSA are vulnerable to STH infections. Together with this, SSA has a high prevalence of herpes simplex virus type II (HSV-2), the primary cause of genital herpes. Studies have examined the immunological interactions between STHs and human immunodeficiency virus and human papillomavirus during co-infections. However, epidemiological and immunological studies on STH-HSV-2 co-infections are lacking, therefore their impact on sexual and reproductive health is not fully understood. STH-driven Th2 immune responses are known to downregulate Th1/Th17 immune responses. Therefore, during STH-HSV-2 co-infections, STH-driven immune responses may alter host immunity to HSV-2 and HSV-2 pathology. Herein, we provide an overview of the burden of STH and HSV-2 infections in SSA, and host immune responses to STH and HSV-2 infections. Further, we emphasize the relevance and urgent need for (i) focused research into the interactions between these important pathogens, and (ii) integrated approaches to improve the clinical detection and management of STH-HSV-2 co-infections in SSA.
撒哈拉以南非洲地区（SSA）承受着土壤传播蠕虫（STH）和性传播病毒感染不成比例且相互重叠的负担。据估计，撒哈拉以南非洲地区有2.32亿学龄前和学龄儿童易感染土壤传播蠕虫。与此同时，撒哈拉以南非洲地区单纯疱疹病毒2型（HSV - 2）的患病率很高，而HSV - 2是生殖器疱疹的主要病因。已有研究探讨了在合并感染期间土壤传播蠕虫与人类免疫缺陷病毒以及人乳头瘤病毒之间的免疫相互作用。然而，关于土壤传播蠕虫与HSV - 2合并感染的流行病学和免疫学研究尚缺，因此它们对性健康和生殖健康的影响尚未得到充分了解。已知由土壤传播蠕虫驱动的Th2免疫反应会下调Th1/Th17免疫反应。因此，在土壤传播蠕虫与HSV - 2合并感染期间，由土壤传播蠕虫驱动的免疫反应可能会改变宿主对HSV - 2的免疫力以及HSV - 2的病理状态。在此，我们概述了撒哈拉以南非洲地区土壤传播蠕虫和HSV - 2感染的负担，以及宿主对土壤传播蠕虫和HSV - 2感染的免疫反应。此外，我们强调了以下方面的相关性和迫切需求：（i）针对这些重要病原体之间相互作用的重点研究；（ii）采用综合方法来改善撒哈拉以南非洲地区土壤传播蠕虫与HSV - 2合并感染的临床检测和管理。
