Human African Trypanosomiasis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection in Western Kenya

Abstract

Objective: To determine possible interaction between infections of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness and HIV/AIDS in Western Kenya Design: 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) Setting: 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>O.OOI) 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. Conclusion: 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+ Tcell numbers and CD4/CD8 T cell ratios be assessed to investigate response to treatment in HIV positive HAT patients.