Multilingual abstracts

Please see Additional file 1 for translations of the abstract into the six official working languages of the United Nations.

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of praziquantel for the treatment and morbidity control of schistosomiasis in endemic areas [1–3]. The drug has minimal serious side effects, is easy to administer and its price has been substantially reduced since its introduction [4–6]. Using a recommended single dose (40 mg/kg), the parasitological cure rates of praziquantel for S. mansoni ranges from 18% to 90% [7–11]. The reduction of the infection intensity reportedly ranges from 80% to 95%, when using the recommended single oral dose of 40 mg/kg and as assessed between four and 12 weeks after treatment [8, 12, 13].

The efficacy of praziquantel appears to depend on the synergy with the host’s intact immunological response against the adult worms [14–17]. Studies involving S. mansoni animal models have demonstrated the immune-dependent action of the drug, whereby immunodeficient animal models have a reduced efficacy [14–17]. Pre-immunisation of S. mansoni animals models with parasite antigens to generate parasite-specific antibodies [18, 19], or the passive transfer of immune serum from immunocompetent animal models, increases praziquantel efficacy [17, 19, 20]. This indicates that a functional and intact immune response is required to enhance praziquantel efficacy [19].

The demonstration that praziquantel efficacy is immune-dependent in S. mansoni animal models [16, 19, 20] suggests that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 associated immunodeficiency may affect praziquantel efficacy in human populations [21]. Two studies conducted in Western Kenya [22] and in rural Zimbabwe [23] found no significant difference in praziquantel efficacy in S. mansoni HIV-1 seronegative or seropositive individuals, in terms of cure rates or in reduction in intensity of infection, nor was there any influence of the CD4+ level on the treatment outcome [22, 23].

For over three decades, praziquantel has been the drug of choice for the treatment and control of the S. mansoni infection and morbidity [4], but there are concerns that the parasite may develop resistance against the drug [24]. Thus, the WHO highly recommends monitoring praziquantel efficacy in areas with dissimilar levels of S. mansoni endemicity [25, 26] and in infected individuals of differing immunological statuses [3]. Thus, it remains important to understand praziquantel efficacy in individuals concurrently infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni, and with different immunological statuses (as measured by CD4+ levels). In the current study, we hypothesised that individuals co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni have lower parasitological cure rates and praziquantel efficacy depending on their immune status as measured by CD4+ cell counts. We compared parasitological cure rates and infection intensity reductions after a single oral dose of praziquantel was given to HIV-1 seronegative and seropositive individuals infected with S. mansoni.

Methods

Study population and study area

The study was conducted in the Ilemela District, Mwanza Region, Northwest Tanzania. The study area is located at 32–34°E and 2–4°S, on the southern shores of Lake Victoria. Temperature range from 18°C to 28°C and there is a mean annual rainfall of 1068 mm. Four villages – Sangabuye, Kayenze, Igalagala and Igombe – were chosen for their close proximity to the lake. The majority of the population belongs to the Sukuma tribe. Other migrant tribes are the Kerewe, Jita and Kara. Most of the villagers in the four villages depend on the lake for domestic and economic activities. Domestic activities include washing, bathing, cooking, drinking and recreation, and the main economic activities are fishing and farming. Due to high water contact levels, residents have a high risk of being infected with S. mansoni[27–29], and a high occupational exposure maintains high intensities of S. mansoni infection into adulthood [30]. Annual mass drug administration (MDA) against helminth infections in these villages focuses on school-age children rather than the adult population. Moreover, the high rate of sexual mixing within the fishing villages increases the risk of HIV-1 transmission in the adult population [31]. In 2003, the HIV-1 prevalence in individuals aged 15–60 years living in Kayenze and Sangabuye villages was estimated to be 10% [27].

Study design and sample size

The study consisted of a cross-sectional baseline study followed by a prospective interventional longitudinal follow-up. At baseline, the cross-sectional study was conducted to collect pre-treatment prevalence rates and intensities of the S. mansoni and HIV-1 infections. Following this, all infected participants – irrespective of their HIV-1 serostatus or CD4+ count levels – were treated with a single dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg), and followed up after 12 weeks to assess the efficacy of the treatment. The study included individuals who had lived in the study villages for more than two years, either male or female, and aged from 21 to 55 years. Individuals with a history of treatment for schistosomiasis (praziquantel) in the past six months and those who were on antiretroviral treatment (ART) were excluded from the study at the baseline.

To calculate the sample size, we assumed a parasitological cure of 70% in HIV-1 negative individuals infected with S. mansoni. At a power of 80% and 95% confidence intervals to detect a parasitological cure rate of 60% among the HIV-1 positive individuals co-infected with S. mansoni, 33 HIV-1 positive individuals and 484 HIV-1 negative individuals would need to be treated with praziquantel, assuming a loss to follow-up of 10% and a prevalence of HIV among people infected with schistosomiasis of 6%. This sample size was estimated using Stata 12 with the command: sampsi 0.70 0.60, alpha (.95) power (.80) ratio (1.5).

Data collection

  1. (i)

    HIV-1 screening and CD4 +analysis: All participants who were involved in the prospective longitudinal survey and were HIV-1 negative at the baseline cross-sectional survey were re-tested for the possibility of HIV-1 seroconversion according to the Tanzanian national HIV algorithms which use Determine® (Alere Determine, Chiba, Japan), followed by UNI-GOLD® (Trinity Biotech PLC, Bray, Ireland).

  2. (ii)

    Parasitological examination of the S. mansoni infection: A single stool sample was obtained, from which four Kato-Katz thick smears were prepared [32] using a template of 41.7 mg (Vestergaard Frandsen, Lausanne, Switzerland). After 24 hours, the smears were independently examined for S. mansoni eggs by two experienced technicians from the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) laboratory. For quality assurance, a random sample of 10% of the negative and positive Kato-Katz thick smears were re-examined by a third technician.

  3. (iii)

    Treatment and follow-up: All 854 individuals found to be infected with S. mansoni at baseline (aged 21–55 years), irrespective of their HIV-1 serostatus or CD4+ cell count levels, were treated with a single dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg). These individuals were followed up and examined for S. mansoni eggs in their stool samples 12 weeks after treatment.

Data analysis

The data were double entered using CSPro and the final data set was stored in a MySQL database. The data analysis was performed using Stata version 12 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas, USA). The parasitological cure rates and egg reduction of single-dose praziquantel was calculated only for individuals who gave single stool samples at baseline and at the follow-up examination 12 weeks later, from which four Kato Katz thick smears were prepared. In addition, these individuals received praziquantel treatment. The S. mansoni egg counts for each participant were calculated from the average of the counts from the four Kato-Katz thick smears and multiplied by 24 to obtain individuals’ eggs per gram of faeces (epg). To compare the groups, the geometric mean epg of the S. mansoni infection was obtained as the antilog of the mean of the transformed log (log epg + 1) egg counts of individuals in each group. The parasitological cure rates were calculated as the proportion of individuals who were excreting S. mansoni eggs in their stool samples prior to praziquantel administration and those who excreted no eggs after treatment, multiplied by a factor of 100. Egg count reduction rates were calculated as [1-(geometric mean epg after treatment/geometric mean epg before)] multiplied by a factor of 100. The parasitological cure rates were compared between demographic factors, HIV-1 serostatus; CD4+ cells count levels and the intensity of the S. mansoni infection. The geometrical mean epg at baseline and 12 weeks after treatment were compared with demographic factors, HIV-1 serostatus, CD4+ cells counts levels and the intensity of the S. mansoni infection using the t-test or ANOVA. Egg reduction rates at baseline and 12 weeks after treatment were compared using the χ2-test or Fisher’s exact test, where appropriate. The backward elimination logistic model was fitted to determine the factors associated with praziquantel treatment failure.

Ethical considerations

Ethical approval was obtained from the Higher Degrees Research and Ethics Committee of the School of Public Health, Makerere University (IRB-00005856/2011), and from the joint CUHAS-Bugando Research and Publications Committee (BREC/001/32/2011). Ethical clearance was granted by the National Ethical Review Committee, National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania, and the study was registered in the clinical trial network (Clinical Trial Number NCT-01541631).

The study received further authorisation from the regional and district administrative authorities of the Mwanza Region and Ilemela District. Swahili-translated informed assent and consent forms were used to obtain participants’ consent. For illiterate individuals, a thumbprint was used to sign the consent forms after a clear description of the study objectives was given.

All study participants who were infected with S. mansoni were treated with praziquantel (40 mg/kg) according to the WHO guidelines, irrespective of their HIV-1 serostatus. The study participants were counselled before and after HIV testing using the guidelines for HIV testing and counselling provided by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Tanzania [33, 34]. Trained counsellors, working with the local district health departments, were involved in counselling the study participants before the HIV testing was done. All HIV infected individuals were given access to CD4+ counting, and those found to have CD4+ < 350 cells/μL were referred to the care and treatment clinic (CTC) at the nearby health centre and were then referred to the district hospital for further assessment of their eligibility for ART and management, according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Results

Parasitological cure rates

Of the 854 individuals found infected at baseline and treated with praziquantel, 558 (65.33%) were present at the examination 12 weeks later. Three (3) individuals experienced HIV-1 seroconversion and were excluded from the analysis and 299 were absent due to various reasons, as shown in Figure 1. Pre-treatment parasitological data and demographic information were compared between individuals who were present and absent at the 12 weeks’ follow-up appointment. There were no differences in pre-treatment GM-epg between the 555 individuals who were present (174.21 epg, 95% CI; 154.14–196.87) and the 299 individuals who were absent (200.92 epg, 95% CI: 167.97–240.34) (t = −1.4012, P = 0.16). Similarly, there were no significant differences in sex distribution (χ2 = 0.9767, P = 0.32), age distribution (χ2 = 3.1831, P = 0.36), occupation (χ2 = 0.1168, P = 0.94) and village of residence (χ2 = 2.6712, P = 0.44).

Figure 1
figure 1

Study profile showing S. mansoni infection among HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative at baseline and at 12 weeks follow-up point.

Full size image

The 555 individuals infected with S. mansoni at baseline gave a single stool sample at the 12 weeks’ follow-up examination. Of these, 526 were HIV-1 negative and infected with S. mansoni and 29 were co-infected at baseline. Of the co-infected individuals, 17 had a CD4+ cell count < 350cells/μL and 12 had a CD4+ count ≥ 350 cells/μL. The overall median CD4+ cell count was 228 cells/μL (range: 202–380).

The overall parasitological cure rate of the entire cohort was 61.80% (n = 343/555) after 12 weeks. In relation to the HIV-1 serostatus, among the 526 individuals of the HIV-1 negative cohort infected with S. mansoni at baseline, the parasitological cure rate was 62.55% (329/526) and, in individuals who were co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni, the cure rate was 48.28% (14/29). Parasitological cure rates did not differ between the HIV-1 serostatus (P = 0.12). In relation to CD4+ count levels, the parasitological cure rate among HIV-1 and S. mansoni co-infected individuals with CD4+ cell counts <350 cells/μL was 43.75% (7/16) and those who had CD4+ cells counts of ≥ 350 cells/μL was 66.67% (8/12). However, the parasitological cure rates did not vary with the CD4+ count levels (P = 0.23). Table 1 shows the parasitological cure rates of praziquantel treatment in relation to demographic factors, HIV-1 serostatus, CD4+ cell count levels and the intensity of the S. mansoni infection. In general, the parasitological cure rates did not vary significantly in relation to HIV-1 serostatus, CD4+ cells counts levels and the intensity of the S. mansoni infection.

Table 1 Parasitological cure rate of praziquantel treatment in relation to demographic factors, HIV-1, CD4 + count levels and S. mansoni infection intensities
Full size table

Effects of praziquantel treatment on S. mansoni infection intensities

The overall geometrical mean egg per gram of faeces (GM-epg) of the entire cohort of 555 individuals at baseline was 174.21 epg (95% CI: 154.14–196.87) and, after 12 weeks of treatment, the GM-epg was reduced to 39.88 epg (95% CI: 36.77–43.25). The overall egg reduction rate (ERR) for the entire cohort was 77.11%. In relation to the HIV-1 serostatus, at baseline, 526 HIV-1 seronegative individuals infected with S. mansoni had GM-epg of 175.06 epg (95% CI: 154.48–198.39), which decreased to 39.88 epg (95% CI: 36.69–43.55) in the 212 individuals who remained S. mansoni egg positive. This translated to an ERR of 77.22% after 12 weeks of treatment. For the co-infected individuals, at baseline, they had a GM-epg of 159.39 epg (95% CI: 27.20–58.11), which decreased to 39.85 epg (95% CI: 27.20–58.11) in the 15 co-infected individuals who remained S. mansoni egg positive at 12 weeks. This gave an ERR of 75%. The overall egg reduction rates did not differ with the HIV-1 serostatus (P = 0.22) (see Table 2). In relation to CD4+ count levels, at baseline, individuals with CD4+ cell count levels < 350 cell/μL had a GM-epg of 134.59 epg (95% CI: 52.19–347.07), which decreased to 49.66 epg (27.16–90.79), giving an ERR of 63.11%. In those who had CD4+ cell counts ≥ 350 cell/μL at baseline, the GM-epg was 215.78 epg (80.79–576.36), which decreased to 31.59 epg (95% CI: 13.18–75.69) after 12 weeks of treatment. For this group, the ERR was 85.37%. The ERR did not differ with the categories of CD4+ cell counts (P = 0.37). In relation to demographic factors, a significant ERR was observed in relation to age groups, with the younger age group (21–30 years) having an ERR of 81.11% (P < 0.05). Similarly, a significant ERR was observed in relation to the intensity of the S. mansoni infection (P < 0.0001), with individuals who had a heavy infection at baseline attaining a ERR of 95.19%. Table 2 shows the comparison of S. mansoni GM-epg at baseline and at the examination 12 weeks later, after treatment was stratified by demographic characteristics, HIV-1 serostatus, CD4+ cell count levels and intensity of the S. mansoni infection.

Table 2 Schistosoma mansoni geometrical mean egg per gram of faeces (GM-epg) after praziquantel treatment in relation to demographic factors and S. mansoni infection intensities
Full size table

Factors associated with praziquantel cure failure

Table 3 shows the bivariate and multivariable analysis, illustrating the factors associated with praziquantel cure failure. Neither at bivariate levels (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 0.85–3.78, P = 0.13) nor at the multivariable analysis (aOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 0.69–1.39, P = 0.89) was HIV-1 infection per se associated with praziquantel treatment failure.

Table 3 Factors associated with praziquantel cure failure
Full size table

Discussion

In the present study, a relatively small percentage of the study population was co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni, resulting in a low to moderate reduction in the CD4+ cell counts. Praziquantel efficacy, as measured by parasitological cure rates and reduction in the intensity of the infection, did not vary significantly with the HIV-1 serostatus and was not influenced by the level of CD4+ cell counts. In relation to the parasitological cure rate and the reduction in the intensity of infection, individuals co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni responded to praziquantel treatment the same as HIV-1 seronegative individuals infected with S. mansoni did. Although co-infected individuals had lower cure rates and reduction in intensity of infection than the HIV-1 seronegative individuals infected with S. mansoni, the difference was not significant. Similarly, praziquantel efficacy – as measured by parasitological cure rates and the reduction in intensity of the infection – was not influenced by the level of CD4+ cell counts. The difference observed in parasitological cure rates and in reduction in intensity of infection in the two categories of CD4+ cell counts did not reach a significant level.

This observed praziquantel efficacy was consistent with previous studies conducted among humans co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni[22, 23]. In rural Zimbabwe, the parasitological cure rates assessed 12 weeks after praziquantel treatment among individuals co-infected with HIV-1 and S. mansoni infection and those who were only infected with S. mansoni were 86% and 85%, respectively [23]. Equally, co-infected individuals and those only infected with S. mansoni experienced similar reductions in the intensity of the infection [23]. It should be noted that the Zimbabwean study was conducted in areas with low intensities of the S. mansoni infection [23]; this could partly explain the very high parasitological cure rates reported following treatment with a single dose of praziquantel [8, 12, 35]. A similar study was conducted in Western Kenya, in an area highly endemic for S. mansoni infection, among individuals with a heavy intensity of infection [22]. At four weeks following treatment, a parasitological cure rate of 59% in the HIV-1 seronegative individuals infected with S. mansoni and a rate of 53% among co-infected individuals were observed; an overall egg reduction of 93% was observed in the two groups [22]. Our study and the one done by Karanja et al.[22] were conducted among individuals highly infected with S. mansoni, based on egg counts. This may have in part contributed to the observed low parasitological cure rates. Previous studies have attributed a heavy intensity of S. mansoni infection, an intense transmission of infection and a low sensitivity to praziquantel among the strains of S. mansoni to low parasitological cure rates [7].

In the present study, praziquantel efficacy – as measured by the cure rate and reduced egg excretion – was not significantly influenced by the level of CD4+ cell counts, although individuals categorised as having a lower CD4+ cell count (<350 cells/μL) showed lower parasitological cure rates and egg excretion. Our observations were in accordance with studies conducted in HIV-1 co-infected individuals with low [23] and heavy intensities of infection [22]. In Western Kenya and rural Zimbabwe, egg reduction – assessed at four or 12 weeks after praziquantel treatment – did not differ over a range of CD4+ cell counts [22]. Our results on praziquantel efficacy in this population do not mirror those reported from S. mansoni animal model studies [14, 15, 17]. In immunodeficient mice (nude, T cell depleted and severe combined immunodeficiency [SCID] mice), characterised by an absence of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and egg antibodies responses, praziquantel is inefficient in treating the S. mansoni infection [14, 15, 17]. However, it is important to note that the degree of immunosuppression in the mice used in these model studies was much greater than the moderate levels of CD4+ reduction found in the co-infected individuals in the present study. Interestingly, the passive transfer of serum from infected immunocompetent mice or from mice immunisation with S. mansoni worm antigens partly restores the efficacy of praziquantel in severely immunosuppressed mice [17, 19, 20], and this is dependent on specific anti-worm antibodies [19, 36].

In schistosomiasis endemic areas, young children are highly susceptible to infection and re-infection. However, an acquired partial immunity against infection [37] develops with age, with exposure to adult worms dying over time or following praziquantel treatment [19, 36]. In these endemic areas, most people will have acquired schistosomiasis very early in childhood and will already have had high levels of anti-worm antibodies by the time they were old enough to be included in this study. If their anti-worm antibodies remained high enough, despite the low to moderate reductions in CD4+ T cell counts that resulted from the HIV-1 infection, it is possible that these antibodies might contribute to the effective killing of the parasite by praziquantel, despite the immunosuppressive effects of the HIV-1 infection. It is likely that the moderate CD4+ T cell levels observed in co-infected individuals in the present study were sufficient to support the levels of anti-schistosome antibodies necessary for an enhanced praziquantel efficacy [19, 22, 36]. The CD4+ T cell levels that may be required to ensure an optimum praziquantel efficacy are not known. This calls for further, more detailed studies.

Conclusion

Although this study was limited by the relatively low percentage of individuals who were co-infected with schistosomiasis and HIV-1, the results indicate that HIV-1 infection per se or its moderate immunosuppressive effects, as indicated by the CD4+ T cell counts, does not significantly affect praziquantel efficacy in terms of cure rate or reduction in the intensity of infection. This suggests that, in national schistosomiasis control programmes, the standard praziquantel dose can be effective, even deployed in populations where schistosomiasis and HIV-1 co-infections are likely to occur. This would also be the case for individual treatment except where there is an evidence of more severe HIV-1 or AIDS associated immunosuppression.

Summary

The present study assessed the efficacy of praziquantel by comparing parasitological cure rates and the reduction in infection intensity in HIV-1 seronegative individuals infected with S. mansoni and HIV-1 seropositive individuals co-infected with S. mansoni, following treatment with a single oral dose of praziquantel.