@article{93927, keywords = {Schistosoma haematobium, Sexually transmitted infection, Urogenital schistosomiasis, Vaginal or cervicovaginal microbiota, Vaginal or cervicovaginal inflammation}, author = {Sturt A and Webb E and Francis S and Hayes R and Bustinduy A}, title = {Beyond the barrier: Female Genital Schistosomiasis as a potential risk factor for HIV-1 acquisition.}, abstract = {

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) results from egg-deposition in the female reproductive tract primarily by the waterborne parasite Schistosoma (S.) haematobium, and less commonly by Schistosoma (S.) mansoni. FGS affects an estimated 20-56 million women worldwide, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. There is cross-sectional evidence of increased HIV-1 prevalence in schistosomiasis-infected women, but a causal relationship between FGS and either HIV-1 acquisition or transmission has not been fully established. Beyond the pathognomonic breach in the cervicovaginal barrier caused by FGS, this narrative review explores potential mechanisms for a synergistic relationship between S. haematobium infection, FGS, and HIV-1 acquisition through vaginal inflammation and target cell recruitment.

}, year = {2020}, journal = {Acta tropica}, pages = {105524}, month = {05/2020}, issn = {1873-6254}, url = {https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0001706X19314391?token=725AE7FAB47B059FDAE841D5877717B45CB40DC28BB0259F9A85652321A5CFAB65733191CA5461F885B08FD873281C9D}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105524}, language = {eng}, }