Co-infection with subclinical HIV and Wuchereria bancrofti, and the role of malaria and hookworms, in adult Tanzanians: infection intensities, CD4/CD8 counts and cytokine responses.
The association between HIV and Wuchereria bancrofti, and the role of malaria and hookworms, were analysed by comparing three groups of individuals with: (1) HIV (HIV+; n=16); (2) W. bancrofti (circulating filarial antigen (CFA)+; n=25); and (3) HIV and W. bancrofti (HIV+/CFA+; n=18). A slightly higher HIV load and lower CD4% was observed in the HIV+/CFA+ group compared with the HIV+ group, and a slightly higher W. bancrofti CFA intensity was observed in the CFA+ group compared with the HIV+/CFA+ group, but none of these differences were statistically significant. Specific and non-specific IL-4, IL-10, IFNgamma and TNF levels were measured. Only specific IL-4 was significantly higher in the CFA+ group compared with the HIV+/CFA+ group. Thus, there was no clear evidence for an interaction between HIV and W. bancrofti infection. A multiple linear regression model showed that the presence of CFA was strongly positively associated with specific TNF response and, similarly, that HIV-positive individuals had higher TNF responses than HIV-negative individuals. Interestingly, the CD4% and CD4/CD8 ratio were higher in HIV-positive individuals with hookworms than in those without hookworm co-infection. Malaria was not associated with any of the other infections, or with CD4/CD8 counts or cytokine responses.
Nielsen
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DBL-Centre for Health Research and Development, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jaegersborg Allé, 1D, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark. nnielsen@dblnet.dk
Friis
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Magnussen
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Krarup
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Magesa
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Simonsen
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000723:Ancylostomatoidea / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000302:isolation & purification
D016207:Cytokines