Impact of Wuchereria bancrofti Infection on Cervical Mucosal Immunity and Human Papillomavirus Prevalence in Women from Lindi and Mbeya Regions, Tanzania

We previously described an increased incidence of HIV among individuals infected with <i>Wuchereria bancrofti</i> (WB). However, no host, parasite, or viral factors were reported as directly associated with the increase in HIV incidence in this group. To investigate this, we compared T cell phenotypes between WB+ and WB- women. Flow cytometry analysis of activation and differentiation markers on CD4 T cells, as well as HIV entry receptor CCR5 was performed on cervical and peripheral blood samples from 54 women living without HIV (WLWoH). Additionally, HPV testing was performed on their specimens and for 13 WLWH. WB infection was associated with a significantly increased frequency of CD3⁺γδ2⁺ T cells in the cervical mucosa (median 4.0% vs. 1.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.012). Contrary to our expectations, we found lower frequencies of CCR5 on total, memory and activated memory CD4 T cells in the WB+ group. However, differences diminished after accounting for age and site of recruitment. WB and HIV infections were associated with an increased likelihood of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV) positivity. (WB status: odds ratio (OR) 4.1, <i>p</i> = 0.066; HIV status: OR 5.5, <i>p</i> = 0.068). Our findings suggest immunological mechanisms by which WB increases the risk for other infections, e.g., HIV and HR HPV, albeit independent of the CCR5 receptor.