Tanzania, June 23 -- Dar es Salaam. A 12-year longitudinal study in southwest Tanzania has found that eliminating a parasitic worm responsible for lymphatic filariasis significantly reduces the risk of HIV infection, offering new insight into the intersection of neglected tropical diseases and HIV prevention.

The study, titled Impact of quasi-elimination of Wuchereria bancrofti on HIV incidence in southwest Tanzania: a 12-year prospective cohort study, was published in The Lancet HIV.

It suggests that controlling the parasite could serve as an additional strategy to reduce HIV transmission in endemic regions.

The research was led by Inge Kroidl, Thomas F Marandu, Lucas Maganga, Sacha Horn, and Mkunde Chachage, alongside collaborators f...