[Bilharziasis and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Congo].

To assess the relationship between schistosomiasis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a cross-sectional study of HIV seroprevalence was carried out in 1992 in a village in the Bouenza region of the Congo where there is a high incidence of urinary schistosomiasis. No correlation was found between eggs in urine and positive serology for HIV in the 895 adults examined nor between positive schistosome serology and positive HIV serology. The incidence of frank schistosome infection (eggs in urine and positive blood tests) was significantly lower in patients with positive HIV serology (3.5%) than in patients with negative HIV serology (6.7%). Similarly the mean number of eggs in urine was significantly lower in patients with positive HIV serology (3.6 eggs per ml) than in patients with negative HIV serology (26.6 eggs per ml) (p < 0.01). These observations suggest that HIV infection limits schistosome development and decreases antibody production. Further study will be needed to confirm these findings.