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Background:

We have previously suggested that helminthic infections make the host more susceptible to HIV infection and enhance its progression due to the chronic immune activation they cause.

Objective:

To study the effect of antihelminthic treatment on HIV plasma viral load (VL) in HIV-and helminth-infected individuals living in Ethiopia.

Methods:

Fifty-six clinically asymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals, 31 (55%) of whom were also infected with helminths, were studied. All participants received antihelminthic treatment at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. Worm egg excretion, HIV plasma VL, and T-cell subsets were determined at baseline and 6 months after treatment.

Results:

The mean age, number of CD4 T cells, and gender distribution were similar in the helminth-infected and-noninfected groups. At baseline, HIV plasma VL was strongly correlated to the number of eggs excreted (p<. 001) and was higher in …