HIV and parasitic co-infections in tuberculosis patients:: a cross-sectional study in Mwanza, Tanzania

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mwanza, Tanzania, to determine the burden of HIV and parasitic coinfections among patients who were confirmed or suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Of the 655 patients investigated, 532 (81.2%) had been confirmed as PTB cases, by microscopy and/or culture (PTBz), whereas the other 123 (18.8%) were only suspected cases, on the basis of other clinical criteria (PTB-). Hookworm and Schistosoma mansoni infections were common in the patients, with prevalences of 18% and 34%, respectively. Malarial, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Strongyloides stercoralis infections were less common, each recorded at a prevalence of,5%. The PTBz patients were less likely to be HIV-positive than the PTB-patients (43.6% v. 62.6%; P < 0.0001). Among the PTBz patients, the HIV-positive had a significantly lower prevalence (12.1% v. 25%; P < 0.0001) and mean intensity ( 49 v. 123 eggs/g; P=0.003) of hookworm infection than the HIV-negative. The PTB patients in the study area were, however, still frequently co-infected with HIV and with parasitic infections that may increase morbidity and accelerate the progression of HIV disease.