HIV-seropositive Female Sex Workers Research Articles

The occurrence of cryptosporidiosis and amoebiasis among HIV infected female sex workers with symptomatic diarrhoea

Objectives: Manipur is one of the high HIV prevalence states of India.Quite a good number of HIV infected females are indulged in the profession of sex workers. These female sex workers (FSWs) are experiencing a number of gastrointestinal related disorders including diarrhoea caused by a wide variety of pathogens, including parasites. Therefore, the present study is being undertaken with a view assessing the occurrence of enteric parasites, especially Cryptosporidium sp and Entamoeba histolytica towards their involvement as the diarrhoeagenic agent(s) in these groups of patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital, Imphal, Manipurfrom1stJanuary to 31stDecember 2018.The study group included54 HIVseropositive female sex workers with symptomatic diarrhoea. Stool sample(s) preserved in 2.5% K2Cr2O7for Cryptosporidium sp and 10% buffer formalin for Entamoeba histolytica and other classical parasites were collected for this study. Results: The present study reveals that out of the selected 54 HIV positive FSWs screened for the presence of enteric parasitosis, 16 (29.62%) individuals were found positive for three parasitic infections– cryptosporidiosis, amoebiasis and hookworm infection. Both mixed infection (31.25%) and single infection (68.75%) were observed among the patients. Single infection with Cryptosporidium sp and Entamoeba histolytica were observed in 5 (31.25%) and 6 (37.5%) patients respectively. Patients in the age group of 25 -30 and 30-35 years were observed to have been more infected. Conclusion: The study reveals that intestinal parasitic infection caused by Cryptosporidium sp and Entamoeba histolytica are prevalent among the present study group of HIV infected female sex workers.

Unexpectedly High Injection Drug Use, HIV and Hepatitis C Prevalence Among Female Sex Workers in the Republic of Mauritius

Female sex workers (FSW) often have a disproportionately high prevalence of HIV infection and they, along with their clients, are considered a core group contributing to the transmission of HIV in many countries. In 2010, females who reported having vaginal/anal/oral sex in the last 6 months with a male in exchange for money or gifts, aged ≥15 years, and living in Mauritius were recruited into a survey using respondent driven sampling. Consenting females (n = 299) completed a behavioral questionnaire and provided venous blood for HIV, HCV and HBV testing. HIV seroprevalence among FSW was 28.9 % and 43.8 % were infected with HCV; among HIV seropositive FSW, 88.2 % were also infected with HCV. Almost 40 % of FSW reported injecting drugs sometime in their lives and 30.5 % of all FSW reported doing so in the previous 3 months. Among those who ever injected drugs, 82.5 % did so in the past 3 months and among those 60 % reported injecting drugs at least once a day. Among FSW who ever injected drugs, 17.5 % reported sharing a needle at last injection. Regression analyses found injection drug use behaviors to be positively associated with HIV seroprevalence. These findings indicate that FSW, especially those who inject drugs, are at high risk for HIV and HCV infection and transmission and illustrates the need for gender responsive HIV and injection drug use prevention and treatment models that respond to the unique situations that affect this population.

Sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections in female sex workers

The present study was conducted in 300 female sex workers (FSWs) from Surat city in 2005-2006. Vaginal swabs, endocervical swabs and serum samples were collected from each of these FSWs. Vaginal samples were screened for bacterial vaginosis (BV), candidiasis and Trichomonas vaginalis . Endocervical swabs were screened for gonococcal infection. Serological tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and syphilis were performed. From a total of 300 FSWs, BV was detected in 40 (13.33%), trichomoniasis in six (2%), candidiasis in 31 (10.33%), HIV seropositivity in 35 (11.66%), HBsAg reactivity in 10 (3.33%) and rapid plasma regain (RPR) reactivity in 20 (6.66%) cases. RPR-positive serum samples were confirmed by the treponema pallidum hemaglutination test. Gonococcal infection was not found in any of the FSWs. Of the total of 35 HIV-positive patients, 20 patients had associated coinfection. Of the 35 HIV-seropositive FSWs, BV was detected in six (17.14%), candidiasis in six (17.14%), syphilis in five (14.28%) and HBsAg in two (5.71%). One (2.85%) HIV-positive FSW was positive for both candidiasis and syphilis.

Cutting Edge: Resistance to HIV-1 Infection among African Female Sex Workers Is Associated with Inhibitory KIR in the Absence of Their HLA Ligands

NK cells are regulated in part by killer Ig-like receptors (KIR) that interact with HLA molecules on potential target cells. KIR and HLA loci are highly polymorphic and certain KIR/HLA combinations were found to protect against HIV disease progression. We show in this study that KIR/HLA interactions also influence resistance to HIV transmission. HIV-exposed but seronegative female sex workers in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, frequently possessed inhibitory KIR genes in the absence of their cognate HLA genes: KIR2DL2/KIR2DL3 heterozygosity in the absence of HLA-C1 and KIR3DL1 homozygosity in the absence of HLA-Bw4. HIV-seropositive female sex workers were characterized by corresponding inhibitory KIR/HLA pairings: KIR2DL3 homozygosity together with HLA-C1 and a trend toward KIR3DL1/HLA-Bw4 homozygosity. Absence of ligands for inhibitory KIR could lower the threshold for NK cell activation. In addition, exposed seronegatives more frequently possessed AB KIR genotypes, which contain more activating KIR. The data support an important role for NK cells and KIR/HLA interactions in antiviral immunity.

HIV-specific T helper responses and frequency of exposure among HIV-exposed seronegative female sex workers in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

The characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposure that determine the induction of HIV-specific T cells and, in particular, T helper cells are not well understood. HIV-1 Gag- and Env-specific T helper cells were analyzed by use of an interferon (IFN)- gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay and by use of IFN- gamma secretion flow cytometry. Responses among HIV-exposed seronegative (ESN) female sex workers (FSWs) were compared with responses among HIV-seropositive FSWs and HIV-seronegative female blood donors from Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Low-level ELISPOT responses were detected in 8 (20%) of 40 ESN FSWs. All of 25 HIV-seropositive FSWs had high-level ELISPOT responses. HIV-specific CD4+ T cells and, occasionally, CD8+ T cells were detected by secretion flow cytometry in 3 (38%) of 8 ESN FSWs and in 4 (80%) of 5 HIV-seropositive FSWs. ESN FSWs with detectable HIV-specific T helper responses had more clients on the previous working day (P=.02) and more exposures to HIV per month (P=.02) and tended to have a lower total duration of commercial sex work. These findings demonstrate that the presence of HIV-specific T helper cells in ESN FSWs is associated with the frequency, rather than the duration, of exposure to HIV. The data may have important implications for the evaluation of HIV vaccine efficacy.

Prevalence and risk factors of cervicovaginal HIV shedding among HIV-1 and HIV-2 infected women in Dakar, Senegal

Objectives: To assess the risk determinants and prevalence of cervicovaginal shedding of HIV-1 and HIV-2 among women in Dakar, Senegal. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study of 153 HIV...

Human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) plasma virus load and markers of immune activation among HIV-infected female sex workers with sexually transmitted diseases in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Plasma levels of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA and markers of immune activation were compared among HIV-1-infected female sex workers (FSWs) with (n=112) and without (n=88) sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. After adjustment for CD4+ T cells, the median virus load was 2.5-fold higher among HIV-seropositive FSWs with STDs than among those without an STD (P=.053). Median virus load was higher for FSWs with a genital ulcer (P=.052) or gonorrhoea (P=.058) than for FSWs without any STD. Median levels of markers of immune activation (CD38 and HLA-DR on CD8+ T cells, soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor II, and beta(2)-microglobulin) tended to be elevated, albeit nonsignificantly, among FSWs in the STD group. These findings have important public health implications in elaborating strategies for decreasing disease progression and transmission of HIV among FSWs.