Possible association found between HCV, HBV, P. falciparum infections

[Guest guest]

http://www.infectiousdiseasenews.com/article/84951.aspx

Posted June 22, 2011

Possible association found between HCV, HBV, P. falciparum infections

Ouwe-Missi-Oukem-Boyer O. PLoS One. 2011;doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016034.

New findings suggest a possible epidemiological interaction between hepatitis C

virus, hepatitis B virus and Plasmodium falciparum infections. Age was a key

factor in this association and hepatitis C virus led to slower emergence of P.

falciparum in the blood, according to Odile Ouwe-Missi-Oukem-Boyer, PhD, and

colleagues.

In the pilot study, researchers assigned 319 participants, aged 13 to 85 years,

residing in Dienga, Africa, to a curative antimalarial treatment. Microscopy and

polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to monitor the emergence of P.

falciparum in participants’ blood every 2 weeks for 1 year duration.

Sixty-five participants tested positive for malaria parasites; 61 were HCV

carriers; 36 were HBV carriers; and P. falciparum was detected in 203 patients

at 1-year follow-up. Of those with P. falciparum, 25 were HBV carriers and 28

were HCV carriers. Most HBV carriers were younger than 30 years; the likelihood

of HCV infection increased significantly with age.

Median time to P. falciparum emergence in blood was 140 days and 120 days in

HBV-negative and HBV-positive participants, and 135 days and 224 days in

HCV-negative and HCV-positive participants, respectively. Compared with those

without HCV infection, HCV carriage was associated with a slower emergence of P.

falciparum infection in the blood.

“HCV carrier status but not HBV carrier status was significantly associated with

slower emergence of malaria parasites in univariate analysis, along with older

age and self-medication,” the researchers wrote. “The relation with HCV carrier

status was confirmed in multivariate analysis, although the P value was just

above the threshold of significance. As age is a confounding factor, the

influence of HCV infection on the natural course of P. falciparummalaria would

be best examined in a case-control study.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.