Human African trypanosomiasis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in Western Kenya.
OBJECTIVE
To determine possible interaction between infections of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness and HIV/AIDS in Western Kenya.


METHODS
Random selection and testing for HIV infections of serum samples from HAT patients using an indirect single phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (EAI-Immunocomb II, oragenics).


METHODS
National Sleeping Sickness Referral Hospital-Alupe.


RESULTS
Four (16%) of the HAT serum samples (n = 25) were found to be seropositive for HIV type 1 and 2 infections, while an additional four (16%) were sero-positive to HIV type 2 infections alone. In contrast, the patients from the local STD clinic showed that 52% (n = 53) were seropositive for both HIV type 1 and 2 infections. No patient from the STD clinic was seropositive for HIV type 2 alone. Calculated Yates Chi square value of 17.31 (P > 0.001) indicated a significant increase in HIV type 2 antibodies in T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients.


RESULTS
Sixteen percent of the HAT serum samples (n = 25) were found to be seropositive for HIV type 1 and 2 infections, while an additional 16% were sero-positive to HIV type 2 infections alone. In contrast, the patients from the local STD clinic showed that 52% (n = 53) were seropositive for both HIV type 1 and 2 infections. No patient from the STD clinic was seropositive for HIV type 2 alone. Calculated Yates Chi square value of 17.31 (P < 0.001) indicated a significant increase in HIV type 2 antibodies in T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients.


CONCLUSIONS
T. brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness is an immuno-suppressive disease whose patients have shown a higher affinity to HIV type 2 infections more common in central and western Africa. Such patients when treated, appear to recover from HAT but later succumb to full-blown AIDS. It is recommended that CD4+ T cell numbers and CD4/CD8 T cell ratios be assessed toinvestigate response to treatment in HIV positive HAT patients.
Matete
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KARI Trypanosomiasis Research Centre, P.O. Box 362, Kikuyu, Kenya.
Kajejo
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D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1; D015498:HIV-2; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016833:Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D019562:Viral Load