Diagnostic Methods for Hepatitis-C Virus and Tuberculosis Coinfection among HIV Infected Individuals: A Review

Abstract

HIV is the chronic viral infection documented worldwide. HIV virus infects and destroys helper T cells (CD4) leading to a number of immunological deficiencies among which Hepatitis-C Virus (HCV) and Tuberculosis (TB) are the major. HCV is a RNA virus that infects the liver leading to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and is a leading cause of deaths in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Tuberculosis, the most common opportunistic infection in HIV positive patients, affects mainly lungs and is transmitted exogenously. HIV and HCV have similar routes of transmission via blood and blood products, sexual contact, IV drug users and vertical transmission. Tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted through aerosol exposure as well as transplacentally. About 30% of HIV-positive individuals are co-infected with HCV worldwide. The sample for HCV detection can be blood and that for tuberculosis, can be both blood and sputum. The diagnosis of HCV in HIV patients can be done by ELISA and kit methods. Similarly diagnosis of tuberculosis can be done by AFB staining, fluorescence microscopy, by culturing in Lowenstein Jensen media, ELISA test as well as by Mantoux test. Since HCV and tuberculosis are the major co-infections among HIV infected individuals, there requires the accurate, specific and rapid tests that can be carried out in routine laboratory procedures.

Keywords: HIV, HCV, tuberculosis, ELISA, AFB stain, Mantoux test

Cite this Article

Urusha Maharjan, Sabina Rana Bhujel, Srijana Sapkota et al. Diagnostic Methods for Hepatitis-C Virus and Tuberculosis Co-Infection among HIV Infected Individuals: A Review. Research & Reviews: Journal of Microbiology and Virology. 2016; 6(3): 38–41p.