SEROPREVALENCE OF ACTIVE Chlamydia trachomatis INFECTION AMONG HIV PATIENTS IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection world wide and if untreated, facilitates the acquisition or spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) amongst other consequences. This study is aimed at determining the seroprevalence of active Chlamydia trachomatis infection among asymptomatic HIV patients. A total of 143 subjects consisting of 112 HIV (85 on highly active antiretroviral therapy [HAART] and 27 HAART-naive) patients and 31 apparently healthy non – HIV subjects, were recruited for this study. Blood samples were collected from all subjects and plasma obtained, were used to detect IgG antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay kit. CD4+ T-lymphocyte count was determined for the HIV patients using standard technique. The seroprevalence of active Chlamydia trachomatis infection was higher among HIV patients (7.14%) compared with their non – HIV counter part (3.23%). However, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.7062). Active Chlamydia trachomatis infection was not detected among HAART – naive HIV patients, but was only observed among HIV patients on HARRT (9.41%). Seroprevalence of active Chlamydia trachomatis infection did not differ significantly among both gender of the study subjects (P > 0.05). Active Chlamydia trachomatis infection did not differ significantly, (P = 0.5784) between HIV patients with CD4 count < 200 cells/?L (4.35%) and those with CD4 count > 200cells/?L (11.29%). An overall seroprevalence of 6.29% of active Chlamydia trachomatis infection was observed in this study. Among HIV patients, active Chlamydia trachomatis infection was observed only among HIV patients on HAART. Further studies are needed to determine the effect of active Chlamydia trachomatis infection among HIV patients on HAART