Treatment of Helminth co-Infection: Short-Term Effects on HIV-1 Progression Markers and Immune Activation

Summary

Identifying methods to slow disease progression in patients with HIV-1 infection remains a top priority in many regions of the world. In many countries, medications known to slow progression are not readily affordable or available. Many of the individuals living in these countries are also co-infected with a variety of other diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and soil-transmitted helminths. There are data to suggest that infection with these agents may activate the immune system in HIV-1 co-infected individuals and may lead to more rapid HIV disease progression. This study will evaluate the potential impact of treating helminths in HIV-1 seropositive individuals. Markers of disease progression and immune activation will be assessed. We will also measure the amount of virus in genital secretions to determine if treatment of co-infection can reduce the infectiousness of HIV in these individuals.

Timeline

Start

2006-03

Primary completion

—

Completion

2007-06

Publications

• Background 2004 report on the global AIDS epidemic : 4th global report. UNAIDS
• Background Fincham JE, Markus MB, Adams VJ. Could control of soil-transmitted helminthic infection influence the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Acta Trop. 2003 May;86(2-3):315-33. doi: 10.1016/s0001-706x(03)00063-9.
• Background Elliott AM, Mawa PA, Joseph S, Namujju PB, Kizza M, Nakiyingi JS, Watera C, Dunne DW, Whitworth JA. Associations between helminth infection and CD4+ T cell count, viral load and cytokine responses in HIV-1-infected Ugandan adults. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2003 Jan-Feb;97(1):103-8. doi: 10.1016/s0035-9203(03)90040-x.
• Background Bentwich Z, Weisman Z, Moroz C, Bar-Yehuda S, Kalinkovich A. Immune dysregulation in Ethiopian immigrants in Israel: relevance to helminth infections? Clin Exp Immunol. 1996 Feb;103(2):239-43. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1996.d01-612.x.
• Background Kassu A, Tsegaye A, Wolday D, Petros B, Aklilu M, Sanders EJ, Fontanet AL, Van Baarle D, Hamann D, De Wit TF. Role of incidental and/or cured intestinal parasitic infections on profile of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets and activation status in HIV-1 infected and uninfected adult Ethiopians. Clin Exp Immunol. 2003 Apr;132(1):113-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02106.x.
• Background Elliott AM, Kyosiimire J, Quigley MA, Nakiyingi J, Watera C, Brown M, Joseph S, French N, Gilks CF, Whitworth JA. Eosinophilia and progression to active tuberculosis in HIV-1-infected Ugandans. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2003 Jul-Aug;97(4):477-80. doi: 10.1016/s0035-9203(03)90096-4.
• Background Olsen A. The proportion of helminth infections in a community in western Kenya which would be treated by mass chemotherapy of schoolchildren. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1998 Mar-Apr;92(2):144-8. doi: 10.1016/s0035-9203(98)90721-0.
• Background Wolday D, Mayaan S, Mariam ZG, Berhe N, Seboxa T, Britton S, Galai N, Landay A, Bentwich Z. Treatment of intestinal worms is associated with decreased HIV plasma viral load. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2002 Sep 1;31(1):56-62. doi: 10.1097/00126334-200209010-00008.
• Background Lawn SD, Karanja DM, Mwinzia P, Andove J, Colley DG, Folks TM, Secor WE. The effect of treatment of schistosomiasis on blood plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration in coinfected individuals. AIDS. 2000 Nov 10;14(16):2437-43. doi: 10.1097/00002030-200011100-00004.
• Background Bennett A, Guyatt H. Reducing intestinal nematode infection: efficacy of albendazole and mebendazole. Parasitol Today. 2000 Feb;16(2):71-4. doi: 10.1016/s0169-4758(99)01544-6.
• Walson JL, Stewart BT, Sangare L, Mbogo LW, Otieno PA, Piper BK, Richardson BA, John-Stewart G. Prevalence and correlates of helminth co-infection in Kenyan HIV-1 infected adults. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2010 Mar 30;4(3):e644. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000644.
• Walson JL, Otieno PA, Mbuchi M, Richardson BA, Lohman-Payne B, Macharia SW, Overbaugh J, Berkley J, Sanders EJ, Chung MH, John-Stewart GC. Albendazole treatment of HIV-1 and helminth co-infection: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. AIDS. 2008 Aug 20;22(13):1601-9. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32830a502e.

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