The study of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum in humans infectedwith immunodeficiency virus in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

The study of the prevalence of asymptomatic <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> in humans infected with immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was carried out in Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic infection <em>P.falciparum</em> in HIV positive individuals and correlate it to age Parasitaemia and CD4 T cell count. Out of ninety three (93) HIV positive patients that participated in the study, 53 (58.8%) were females while 40 (41.4%) were males; 48 (52.4%) females and 35 (33.8%) males were positive for asymptomatic <em>P. falciparum</em> given a total number of 83 (86.6%). Twenty non-HIV patients were used as control samples: 9 (45%) were males and 11 (55%) were females. With 3.0 (33.3%) males and 5 (45.45%) females were positive with insignificant value of mean Parasitaemia of 125.0µl of blood. Age group 31-40 had the highest positive rate of 26 (32.2%) and age group 11-20 and above 60 had the least of positive rate. The correlation between age and both CD4 T cell count and Parasitaemia showed levels of significance less than 0.01 (P&lt;0.01) while the correlation between CD4 T cell and count and Parasitaemia showed no significant correlation, having P-value of P&gt;0.05. Comparing the males mean age, CD4 T cell count and Parasitaemia with that of females there was no level of significance P-value being greater than 0.05 (P&gt;0.05) each. In conclusion, the study showed that in asymptomatic P<em>lasmodium falciparum</em>, almost all the tested samples were positive which could be as a result of depletion in the immune level, hence there is need to always screen for <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> whether in asymptomatic or symptomatic patients. The CD4 T cells count from the study can not be used for the detection or determination of the presence of malaria infection in HIV positive patients. The best method for malaria identification so far is still the staining method. There should not be discrimination when sampling the patient when investigations on HIV and malaria are to be carried out when both are infected.