Treponema pallidum and Hepatitis B virus co-infection among HIV infected patients in Mwanza city

Background: Treponema pallidum and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are endemic in developing countries and poses public health problem among HIV/AIDS adult patients. Co-infection of these pathogens might influence the outcome of HIV/AIDS and in addition T.pallidum infection significantly increases the risk of contracting HIV infection. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of these pathogens among HIV/AIDS adult patients attending Nyamagana district and Sekou Toure regional hospitals in Mwanza city. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital based study involved 130 HIV/AIDS adult patients attending care and treatment clinic at Sekou Toure regional hospital and Nyamagana district hospital was done between June and July 2014. T.pallidum and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were detected using commercially available immunochromatographic rapid tests. Results: Of the 130 HIV/AIDS adult patients, 9/130 (6.9%) had hepatitis B surface antigen positive test while 18(13.85%) were positive for syphilis. Co infection of T.pallidum and hepatitis B virus occurred in 2/130 (1.5%) of participants. There were no any factors that significantly associated with positive hepatitis B surface antigen while multiple sexual partners and history of sexually transmitted diseases were significantly associated with positive syphilis test (P= 0.023 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusions and recommendations: In this setting co infection of Hepatitis B virus and T.pallidum is low. However, individual infections are high necessitating routine screening of these pathogens among HIV/AIDS patients so that appropriate treatment can be initiated. Keywords: Treponema pallidum , Hepatitis B Virus, HIV/AIDS, Co infection