Screening African HIV positive patients for imported parasitic infections.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the results of screening for tropical parasitic infections in HIV patients from Africa, presenting to an infectious diseases unit in the UK.


METHODS
A retrospective case note review of patients from Sub-Saharan Africa, newly diagnosed with HIV infection, between March 2001 and November 2007. Data on patient demographics, clinical presentation and laboratory results, including tropical screening tests, were collected.


RESULTS
146 patients had notes available for review. 22 different countries were represented. 84 patients were screened, by serology, for schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, filariasis and leishmaniasis. 13/122 (10.7%) patients tested had positive schistosomiasis serology and 2/107 (1.9%) had positive strongyloidiasis serology. No patients had positive Leishmania (n = 108) or filaria (n = 97) serology. 3 of 38 (7.9%) had stool samples that were positive for pathogens. Positive schistosomiasis serology was associated with male sex (61.5% vs 28.4% p < 0.05) and a higher mean eosinophil count (0.46 vs 0.12 cells/microL p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Screening HIV patients from Sub-Saharan Africa for schistosomiasis in this population, was positive in over 1 in 10 patients. We would recommend screening for schistosomiasis in these patients. Our results do not support serological screening for leishmaniasis or filarial infection in these patients.
Lillie
Patrick J
PJ
Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK. patricklillie@doctors.org.uk
Bazaz
Rohit
R
Greig
Julia M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D044383:Black People; D004802:Eosinophilia; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom