Schistosomiasis and HIV

The association between schistosomiasis infection and HIV infection could explain the significantly higher rates of HIV among women in sub-saharan Africa.  A recent article in the New York Times examines this theory in light of current research conducted in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and in Tanzania at Weill Bugando, by WCMC Assistant Professor, Dr. Jennifer Downs.  Dr. Downs has conducted research on schistosomiasis in Tanzania for over 5 years, recently publishing the results of a cross sectional study of 354 Tanzania women, showing a significant association between schistosomiasis and HIV (Am J of Top Med Hyg, 2011).   

 Schistosomiasis is caused by parasitic worms that infest river water where many women wash clothes and bathe.  The worms cause sores in the vaginal canal which attract CD4 cells -  the same cells that HIV attacks.  This biologically plausible explanation is gaining ground and recent studies to explore the association have been funded by the NIH and the Gates Foundation. Importantly, the worms from schistosomiasis can be killed with deworming drugs that cost as little as 8 cents per pill.  Read the full artilce at the New York Times.