title: Schistosoma haematobium infection and CD4+ T-cell levels: a cross-sectional study of young South African women.
abstract: Schistosoma (S.) haematobium causes urogenital schistosomiasis and has been hypothesized to adversely impact HIV transmission and progression. On the other hand it has been hypothesized that HIV could influence the manifestations of schistosomiasis. In this cross-sectional study, we explored the association between urogenital S. haematobium infection and CD4 cell counts in 792 female high-school students from randomly selected schools in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We also investigated the association between low CD4 cell counts in HIV positive women and the number of excreted schistosome eggs in urine. Sixteen percent were HIV positive and 31% had signs of urogenital schistosomiasis (as determined by genital sandy patches and / or abnormal blood vessels on ectocervix / vagina by colposcopy or presence of eggs in urine). After stratifying for HIV status, participants with and without urogenital schistosomiasis had similar CD4 cell counts. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis in HIV positive women with low and high CD4 cell counts. There was no significant difference in the number of eggs excreted in urine when comparing HIV positive and HIV negative women. Our findings indicate that urogenital schistosomiasis do not influence the number of circulating CD4 cells.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kleppa
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kari F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Klinge
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hashini Nilushika
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Galaphaththi-Arachchige
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Sigve D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Holmen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lillebø
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onsrud
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Sorlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway; Department of Global Development and Planning, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.
authors.forename: Svein Gunnar
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gundersen
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ndhlovu
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Discipline of Public Health Medicine, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: Eyrun F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Kjetland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000276:immunology*; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult