Study of Prevalence of neglected tropical diseases; leprosy and Visceral leishmaniasis verses tuberculosis co infections among HIV patients

Background: HIV positive patients also suffer from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). There is geographical overlap of neglected tropical diseases and HIV/AIDS, and the frequent occurrence of these disorders call for an integrated approach for their control. A new agenda, on accelerating progress on HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis and neglected tropical diseases, has been set for 2016-2030. India accounts for 40% of world’s neglected diseases. For example, there is approximately 200,000–400,000 new cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) occurring annually worldwide 2014; over 90% of VL occur in six countries, namely Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, South Sudan, and Sudan. Prevalence of neglected tropical diseases, like Leprosy, and visceral leishmaniasis co infections among HIV patients is to be determined and compared with HIV/tuberculosis co infections.

Aims and objectives:

1.        Estimation of prevalence of neglected tropical diseases (Leprosy, visceral leishmaniasis) co infections in comparison to prevalence of tuberculosis co infections among HIV patients.

2.        Determination of status of CD4 T cell count among patients of HIV with neglected tropical diseases and with tuberculosis.

Methods: It is an observational study (retrospective), would be done on the HIV positive patients attending ART centre from January’ 2016 to April’ 2017. All patients were subjected to screening for leprosy. VL, and tuberculosis. Diagnosis for leprosy, VL, and tuberculosis co infections were established by skin slit or skin smear examination, ElISA for kala azar with RK-39, and sputum examination by microscopy and NAAT respectively. Their CD4 cells, estimated during screening examination, would be assessed. Prevalence of neglected tropical co infections and tuberculosis infections would be compared; their CD4 cell count would be compared.