NER19: Clinical, serological, and radiological presentations of neurocysticercosis among people with and without HIV in southern highlands of Tanzania.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a form of cysticercosis which affects the central nervous. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may affect the clinical and radiological presentation of NCC in people living with HIV (PLWHIV), but this has not been studied in our society. Objectives: To describe the clinical, serological, and radiological characteristics of PLWHIV and NCC recruited through HIV clinics compared to non-HIV controls from the community in southern highlands of Tanzania Methods: Paired cross-sectional study was done (April 2018 to April 2021) whereby PLWHIV from Health facilities were paired with HIV negative individuals from communities of Chunya and Iringa districts. Pairs were matched by sex, age, and distance living within 100M of PLHIV residence. Serological test was done for cysticercosis. If either index or control turned serologically positive for cysticercosis, the pair qualified for detailed clinical neurological assessment and CT scan examination. Data analysis was done by using Stata version 15. A descriptive analysis was performed before building a conditional logistic regression model for prediction of the associations between each potential independent predictor (including HIV) and the dependent variable neuro/cysticercosis. A P-value of < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: Total of 2,564 participants were analyzed; 1,415 (55.2%) being female. Mean (SD) age was 43 (11.4) years. T. Solium cysticercosis serology was done for 2,407 samples and 87 (3.4%) were positive with 52 (4.1%) PLWHIV and 35 (2.7%) without HIV (P<0.04). Of the 164 who went for CT scan; 109 (66.5%) came from Tosamaganga and 106 (64.6%) of all were male); 31 (18.2%) had NCC {17 (54.8%) calcified lesions and 14 (45.2%) active lesions}. Neurocysticercosis manifested with chronic headache and seizures. The number, stage and locations of cysts were not statistically different between HIV negative individuals and PLWHIV. Conclusions: NCC is more prevalent in PLWHIV, and mixed lesions were more common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]