A Study of Co-infections of HIV-1 and Schistosoma Mansoni and Its Impact on Praziquantel Treatment Outcomes

Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) and Schistosoma Mansoni Co-infections and Its Impact on Anthelminthic Treatment Outcome Among HIV-1 Infected Individuals in Fishing Communities in Mwanza Region, Northwestern Tanzania.

In this study, it is hypothesized that helminth infections modulate immune responses against HIV-1 infection resulting into increased HIV-1 multiplication, faster progression to AIDS and increased episodes of AIDS-related opportunistic infections. Furthermore, the effect of helminth infections on progression of HIV-1 infection is dependent on helminth infection intensity, host background immunity, nutritional status, demographic factors and socio-economic status. Also, treatment of helminth infections using praziquantel and albendazole among HIV-1 infected individuals will lead to reduction in HIV-1 viral loads, improvement of CD4+ counts, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and Hb levels, improved weight gain and reduction of episodes of HIV-1 related opportunistic infections. In addition, HIV-1 infection is associated with poor anthelminthic treatment outcome as compared to non-HIV infected individuals

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Hematologic Diseases; Anemia; Opportunistic Infections; Human Immunodeficiency Virus I Infection; Intestinal Helminthiasis; Intestinal Schistosomiasis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole

Detailed Description

The proposed study has the main objective to investigate the epidemiology of HIV-1 and Schistosoma mansoni co-infections and assess their association and progress of HIV positive individuals co-infected with S. mansoni. The study will also assess the impact of praziquantel treatment on S. mansoni related morbidities in co-infected HIV positive individuals with S. mansoni in Fishing villages, northwest Tanzania. The study is designed as a community based intervention trial, which consist of cross-sectional survey at the initial baseline survey followed by intervention trials. The initial baseline survey will include 2000 participants from the two villages. The objective of the survey is to determine the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and haemoglobin levels. Also, the socio-economic, demographic characteristics, individual behaviour in relation to HIV-1 and helminth transmission are recorded. In addition, the location and altitude of each household will determined using a hand-held Garmin GPSmap 60CSX, which has an accuracy of ± 5m. After initial survey, study participant will be grouped into 2 groups, one HIV-1 infected group and HIV-1 uninfected group. Blood sample for examination of CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and HIV-1 viral loads will be obtained from HIV-1 positive participants every month for a period of six month. After 6 month of prospective longitudinal survey, the first follow-up survey of the recruited study participants will be conducted with the objective of determining prevalence and intensity of human intestinal schistosomiasis and other helminth infections. Other infections will also be examined, includes malaria and viral hepatitis. Furthermore, S. mansoni induced morbidity will be examined using ultrasonography. A blood sample will also be obtained for all HIV-1 positive patients, from which CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and HIV-1 viral loads will be examined. In the same survey, individuals who tested HIV-1 negative at baseline will also be screened for HIV. After the first follow-up survey, three groups will be formed, Group A- individuals co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni (N=270); Group B- individuals infected with HIV-1 but S. mansoni negative (N=180) and Group C- HIV-1 negative but S. mansoni positive (N=1320) (Figure 2). All individuals who will be infected with S. mansoni and other helminth detected in the study irrespective of HIV-1 serostatus will be treated with praziquantel (40mg/kg) and albendazole (400mg). At six to eight weeks after mass treatment, a second survey will be conducted in the recruited participants aiming at determining cure rates of S. mansoni after chemotherapy with praziquantel. The third survey will be conducted 12 month after the first follow-up survey with the aim of determining the change in CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, HIV-1 viral loads, HIV-1 progression and reversibility of the S. mansoni related liver morbidity after praziquantel

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 2000
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Tanzania
  • Lake Victoria Zone
    • Mwanza, Lake Victoria Zone, Tanzania, +255
      • Ilemela District
      • Principal Investigator: Humphrey D Mazigo
    • Mwanza, Lake Victoria Zone, Tanzania, +255
      • National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 13 years to 53 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Permanent residents and those who have lived in the village for more than 2 years.
• HIV-1 positive individuals only those with CD4+ ≥ 400 cells/μl

Exclusion Criteria:

• HIV-1 positive individuals with CD4+ < 350 cells/μl,
• Those who are on antiretroviral therapy (ARV)
• Pregnant women are excluded.
• Participants with chronic diseases such as leukemia, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: HIV-1 co-infected with schistosoma mansoni; HIV-1 patients co-infected with Schistosoma mansoni	Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel Tablet - 40mg/kgBWT given once Albendazole Tablet - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel- 40mg/kgBWT Albendazole - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel- 40MG/KG ONCE Albendazole - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL
No Intervention: HIV-1 positive individuals with negative S. mansoni; HIV-1 positive individuals with negative Schistosoma mansoni	Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel Tablet - 40mg/kgBWT given once Albendazole Tablet - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel- 40mg/kgBWT Albendazole - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel- 40MG/KG ONCE Albendazole - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL
Experimental: Schistosoma mansoni positive but HIV-1 negative; Schistosoma mansoni positive individuals but HIV-1 negative to be compared with HIV-1 co-infected with Schistosoma mansoni individuals	Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel Tablet - 40mg/kgBWT given once Albendazole Tablet - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel- 40mg/kgBWT Albendazole - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel- 40MG/KG ONCE Albendazole - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL
No Intervention: HIV-1 and Schistosoma mansoni negative; Individuals with no HIV-1 and S. mansoni infections	Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel Tablet - 40mg/kgBWT given once Albendazole Tablet - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel- 40mg/kgBWT Albendazole - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL; Drug: Praziquantel and Albendazole; Praziquantel- 40MG/KG ONCE Albendazole - 400mg once; Other Names: DISTOCIDE; ZENTEL

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The impact of Praziquantel in HIV-1 individuals co-infected with Schistosoma mansoni	Impact of praziquantel treatment on CD4+,CD4+/CD8+, HIV-1 viral loads haemoglobin level, reversibility of liver pathology and occurance of opportunistic infection; Prevalence of co-infections of HIV-1 and Schistosoma mansoni; Prospective longitudinal association between HIV-1 and S. mansoni, and the progression of HIV to AIDS, according to S. mansoni infection status.	12 month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Efficacy of praziquantel	Cure rates; Reductions of infections intensities	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences
• Collaborators: University of Cambridge; National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Humphrey D Mazigo, Makerere University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 20, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 29, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): March 1, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 5, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2012
• Last Verified: March 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anemia; Tanzania; Immune response; Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1; Schistosoma mansoni; Opportunistic infections
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Blood-Borne Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; Immune System Diseases; Disease Attributes; Vector Borne Diseases; Parasitic Diseases; Slow Virus Diseases; Trematode Infections; HIV Infections; Infections; Communicable Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Helminthiasis; Coinfection; Opportunistic Infections; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Tubulin Modulators; Antimitotic Agents; Mitosis Modulators; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Anthelmintics; Antiplatyhelmintic Agents; Anticestodal Agents; Albendazole; Praziquantel
• Other Study ID Numbers: 087540; 00005856/2011 (Other Identifier: Makerere University College of Health Sciences)