Lower prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infections in HIV positive compared to HIV negative adults in Ghana
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Date
2019-09-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
PLOS ONE
Abstract
Background
Sub-Saharan Africa is endemic for intestinal parasites and distinguished for the largest burden
of HIV cases. Blastocystis sp. is one of the most common protists infecting humans but
its role in human disease is still controversial. Aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence
of Blastocystis sp. in HIV positive and negative adults in Ghana and its association
with immune status and other risk factors.
Methods
122 HIV positive outpatients and 70 HIV negative blood donors from the Komfo Anokye
Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, were included in the present study. Demographic,
clinical and laboratory data were collected and HIV positive patients distinguished for CD4+
T cell count <200 cells/μl (n = 54) and >200 cells/μl (n = 68). A Blastocystis’s phylogenetic
analysis was performed to determine sample subtype (ST).
Results
The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in adult HIV positive individuals was lower than in HIV
negative persons (6.6% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.008) and Blastocystis sp. ST1 was the most prevalent
strain. Within HIV positive participants, the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was lower in
those individuals with CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/μl than in patients with higher CD4+ T
cell count (1.9% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.076). Multiple regression analysis revealed that Blastocystis
sp. was inversely associated with an obese Body Mass Index (BMI) in HIV negative persons (p = 0.040). Presence of Blastocystis sp. was correlated with higher CD4+ T cell
count in HIV positive participants (p = 0.049).
Conclusion
It is largely reported that people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Africa are affected from parasite
infections and that co-infections may adversely impact on their immune status, accelerating
progress to AIDS and worsening gastrointestinal manifestations. Differently, in this study
Blastocystis sp. was associated with a better immune status jointly with a healthy body
weight while it seems to be reduced with the progression of HIV infection. This data agree
with recent suggestions that Blastocystis sp. can represent a component of the healthy gut
microbiota.
Description
An article published by PLOS ONE
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Citation
PLoS ONE 14(9): e0221968. https://doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0221968