Coombs’ Direct Antiglobulin Test Among Individuals Co-Infected with Malaria and HIV in Iwo Community, Southwestern Nigeria

In the present study, direct antiglobulin test (DAT) was performed using poly-antiglobulin serum on a total of 138 individuals; 20 of whom had HIV infection only, 50 malaria only, 18 both malaria and HIV and 50 non-infected with either malaria or HIV in order to determine the effect of co-infection with malaria and HIV on DAT status. Malaria parasite test was done by microscopic examination of thick and thin blood films stained with 3% Giemsa. Antibodies to HIV were determined using Capillus rapid HIV 1/HIV 2 test kit, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then confirmed with Western blot (WB). Three (15%) of the 20 HIV infected individuals, 9 (18%) of the 50 malaria infected individuals, 10 (55.6%) of the 18 individuals co-infected with malaria and HIV and 1 (2%) of the 50 non-infected individuals were positive to DAT. Direct antiglobulin test positivity rate was significantly higher in individuals co-infected with malaria and HIV than in those infected with malaria only ( = 7.62; p<0.001) or HIV only ( = 5.76; p<0.001). Direct antiglobulin test positivity rates 2 2 in subjects with HIV only (15%) and malaria only (18%) were not statistically different (p = 0.8). The high prevalence of positive DAT observed in individuals co-infected with malaria and HIV which suggested aggravated effect resulted from positive interactions between malaria and HIV.