BackgroundIn sub-Saharan Africa, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are endemic. Although there has been great progress in HIV care, universal HBV vaccination and care is lacking. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV, HBV genotypes, and drug resistance mutations in dual infected cases in a cohort of HIV patients in Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA total of 308 HIV-1 positive patients were enrolled into the study and tested for HBsAg in plasma. In HBsAg positive samples, HBV DNA was analyzed for HBV genotype using in-house nested PCR with HBV-specific pre-core / core or surface primers, and for HBV drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in polymerase region. Odds ratio at 95% confidence interval was calculated.ResultsOf the 308 HIV-positive subjects, 62.7% were female, median age 38 years (range 18–68, IQR: 27–49), and the median CD4 count 405 cells/μl (IQR: 75–734). Overall, 94.2% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) frequently with combinations of Zidovudine (AZT)- Lamivudine (3TC)—Nevirapine (NVP). HBsAg was detected in 5.5% (95%CI 2.95–8.08%) of the study participants, of which the majority were infected with HBV genotype A (7A, 2E, 2D, 1C, 1 G). All HIV/HBV positive cases were on ART with anti-HBV activity (i.e., 3TC) and 3TC associated HBV DRMs (i.e., rtV173L, rtL180M, and rtM204V) were detected in 7/13 (53.8%) subjects.ConclusionIn this cross-sectional study of HIV-infected individuals, we found 5.5% HBV/HIV co-infected cases. Most were receiving the first generation anti-HBV therapy with a low genetic barrier to resistance, and several carried mutations associated with anti-HBV (3TC) drug resistance. These data underscore the importance of integrating HBV screening to the HIV treatment guidelines for better management and prevention of HBV-related liver disease.

Abstract-Background:Intestinal parasitic infection is a serious health problem in developing countries mainly in children, whichleads to child mortality and morbidity. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infection among underfive children in UoG Hospital.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2015 to June 2015, a total of 277 children were selected by using systematic random sampling technique. Direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration technique was used for identification of IP; also, an interview-based questioner was prepared to assess the socio-demographic status (of parents and children) and associated risk factors of those under five children. Result: A total of 277 children [(148 (53.4%) females and 129 (46.6%) males] aged 1 year to 5 years was examined for intestinal parasitic infections. The overall prevalence of this study was 25 (9.02%) when examined by wet mount and48 (17.3%) when examined by formol-ether concentration technique. Five (1.8 %) children were infected by multiple parasites in concentration technique. Both intestinal helminthes (84%, 81.1%) and protozoan parasites (16%, 18.9%) were detected in microscopic examination with wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques respectively. Eight species of intestinal parasites were identified. Of those, the predominant were Ascaris lumbricoides (52%, 35.8%), Hymenolepis nana (20%, 24.5%) and cyst of Giardia lamblia (12%, 9.4%) when examined by wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques respectively. The least prevalent were Strongyloides stercoralis (1.9%). There was statistically observed association for the prevalence of IP with age, hand washing habit of parents and shortening of fingernails habit of parents. Conclusion: The result of this study indicated that helminthic infection is more predominant than protozoan infection. Children who come from parents who had no hand washing habit and had no shortening fingernails habit were more affected by IP; therefore, Personal hygiene of parents of underfive children must be improved.

BackgroundArtemether–lumefantrine (AL) has been used as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Ethiopia since 2004. Antimalarial drug resistance is one of the major obstacles for malaria control and curtails the lifespan of several drugs. Thus, continued monitoring of the efficacy of AL is of great public health importance in malaria endemic areas.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of AL for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in the Dembia district, northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA prospective study was conducted from April 2015 to February 2016 at Kola Diba Health Center (KHC) in the Dembia district to determine the therapeutic efficacy and safety of AL for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum monoinfection. Patients were treated with the six-dose regimen of AL over 3 days and followed up for 28 days as per the World Health Organization protocol.ResultsOf the total 80 patients enrolled in the AL efficacy study, 75 patients completed the 28 days follow-up. None of the participants reported major adverse events. No early treatment failure or late clinical failure were observed during the study, but there were 6 (8.0%) late parasitological failures. The uncorrected per protocol cure rate of AL was 92.0 (95% CI: 85.7–98.3). Treatment with AL cleared parasitemia and fever in >95% of the patients by day 3.ConclusionThis study showed that AL is well tolerated and remains efficacious for treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in northwest Ethiopia. However, the observed late parasitological failures in this study are of a concern and warrant continued monitoring of drug efficacy as per the World Health Organization recommendations.

Background. In developing countries, environmental and personal hygiene is playing a great role in the increasing of intestinal helminth infection. In countries with limited resources and poor hygiene practices, there is a substantial overlap of intestinal helminthic and chronic infections like HIV, TB, and cancer. Intestinal helminths like Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm cause malnutrition and induce a type-2 immune response that could worsen the severity and clinical outcomes of patients with cancer. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminths among cancer patients who are under chemotherapy. Methodology. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in volunteer cancer patients. Clinical information were collected from study participants using a structured questioner. Stool sample was collected for parasitological examination. Formol-ether concentration technique was done, and then, two microscopic slides were prepared. Examination was done by two laboratory technicians for the detection of helminths. SPSS version 22 was used for data analysis, and simple descriptive statistical analysis was done for data presentation. Result. The total study participants were 41, of these 31 (75.6%) were females and 10 (24.4%) were male. Breast cancer and colonic cancer were the highest proportion with the others, 43.9% and 17.1%, respectively. The prevalence of intestinal parasites were 7/41 (17%). Hookworm 3/41(7.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides 3/41(7.3%), and Hymenolepis nana 1/41(2.4%) are the isolated parasite. Conclusions and Recommendations. The prevalence of intestinal helminths in cancer is lower than HIV and DM in the study area. However, the prevalence in these cancer patients is still high and needs deworming and health education for the better management of these cancer patients.

Background: Recently, dolutegravir (DTG)-based combined therapy, a more effective and safer first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART), has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) since July 2018. However, its effectiveness in CD4+ T-cells count recovery and viral load suppression has not been studied yet in Ethiopia, where HIV is endemic. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of DTG-based therapy on CD4+ T-cell count and viral load count among HIV-positive patients in Ethiopia. Methods: A longitudinal prospective cohort study was conducted from July 2020–February 2021. 109 HIV-positive individuals who are ART naive but plan to initiate DTG-based therapy were recruited. HIV viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) copies were determined using a CD4+ T-cell count and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To compute the difference in viral load and CD4+ T-cell counts between the baseline, 3rd, and 6th months, a Friedman test was used. Results: The study included 109 HIV-positive people who had never received antiretroviral medication. Participants taking DTG-based treatment showed significantly decreasing median (IQR) values of viral load count (copies/mL) from 446,812 (237,649.5–732,994.5) at baseline to 34 (23.5–46) at 3 months and 0.0 (0–19) at 6 months of treatment follow-up. Although the treatment increases the proportion of participants with HIV-1 RNA 50 copies/mL from 0 (0% at baseline) to 87 (79.8%) and 100 (91.7%) at the 3rd and 6th months of treatment, respectively, On the other hand, the CD4+ T-cell count increased significantly during treatment: median (IQR): 209 (81.5–417.5) versus 291 (132–522) versus 378 (181.–632.5) cells/L at baseline, the 3rd and 6th months of the treatment follow-up period, respectively. Conclusion: We found dolutegravir-based therapy was a promising option with high virological suppression rates and CD4+ T-cell count recovery demonstrating a restoration of cellular immunity. More over Viral load suppression rates were high after the initiation of the treatment.