In May 2001, the World Health Assembly (WHA) estimated that two billion people were infected by soil-transmitted helminths (S-THs) and
schistosomiasis, worldwide. The WHA urged member states to recognise that there can be synergy between public health control programmes for S-THs,
schistosomiasis and other diseases. This is particularly relevant to the new dimension created by the HIV/
AIDS epidemics in the same impoverished communities and countries where
helminthiasis is hyperendemic. Immunological adaptation between humans and parasitic helminths has developed during evolution. Review of 109 research papers, 76% (83/109) of which, were published between 1995 and February 2002, revealed increasing evidence that this relationship may have created an opportunity for more rapid
infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as quicker progression to
AIDS. Moreover, the efficacy of some
vaccines against HIV is likely to be impaired by chronic
helminthiasis. For this, there is strong, indirect evidence. There is an urgent need for parasitologists, epidemiologists, immunologists and virologists to undertake comprehensive, transdisciplinary research. On the other hand, there is no current evidence that immunosuppression by HIV facilitates helminthic
infection. The situation in regard to
strongyloidiasis, however, is not yet clear.