Seroepidemiological associations between tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis B, and AIDS in West Africa

Serum samples from 51 patients with malaria, 35 patients with hepatitis B virus infection, 111 patients with tuberculosis, and 166 healthy controls were studied to determine any associations between tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis B, and AIDS in Nigeria, West Africa. All serum samples were examined for the presence of HIV-1/HIV-2, hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), and malaria antibodies. Only one patient was HIV-1 antibody-positive and none HIV-2 antibody-positive. Statistical associations were found between the presence of malaria antibody titres on the one hand and a diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection (P < 0.05) or tuberculosis (P < 0.05). A stronger association (P < 0.001) was found between the presence of HBsAg and tuberculosis suggesting that HBsAg carriers are at higher risk of contracting tuberculosis.