Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in HIV patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Soil-transmitted Helminth (STH) infections have been found associated with people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but little is known about the overall burden of STH coinfection in HIV patients. We aimed to assess the burden of STH infections among HIV patients. Relevant databases were systematically searched for studies reporting the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthic pathogens in HIV patients. Pooled estimates of each helminthic infection were calculated. The odds ratio was also determined as a measure of the association between STH infection and the HIV status of the patients. Sixty-one studies were finally included in the meta-analysis, consisting of 16,203 human subjects from all over the world. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides infection in HIV patients was found to be 8% (95% CI 0.06, 0.09), the prevalence of Trichuris trichiura infection in HIV patients was found to be 5% (95% CI 0.04, 0.06), the prevalence of hookworm infection in HIV patients was found to be 5% (95% CI 0.04, 0.06), and prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in HIV patients was found to be 5% (95% CI 0.04, 0.05). Countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America & Caribbean and Asia were identified with the highest burden of STH-HIV coinfection. Our analysis indicated that people living with HIV have a higher chance of developing Strongyloides stercoralis infections and decreased odds of developing hookworm infections. Our findings suggest a moderate level of prevalence of STH infections among people living with HIV. The endemicity of STH infections and HIV status both are partially responsible for the burden of STH-HIV coinfections.

Impact of preventive chemotherapy in transforming the fight against soil transmitted Helminthic in Zanzibar: A literature review

“…(1) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, Soil-transmitted helminths infections are among the most common infections worldwide with an estimated 1.5 billion infected people worldwide. (2) Since the early 1990s, the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar in the United Republic of Tanzania has been marked by a high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths. In the 2000s, the Zanzibar Ministry of Health reported that an estimated 1 million people on Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba) are infected with STHs.…”