HIV-Viral Hepatitis C Coinfection or Cross-Reaction of Rapid Diagnostic Orientation Tests? About a Clinical Case Observed in Brazzaville in 2016

Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality in the absence of clinical management, making identification of these cases crucial. Screening for hepatitis viral-HIV coinfection before initiation of treatment for viral hepatitis or HIV is recommended. In this context, we report a case of possible cross-reaction between the serology of viral hepatitis C and HIV infection by rapid diagnostic orientation tests. Although these rapid tests are the main diagnostic tools in developing countries, their scientific validation must be required before they are made available to practitioners. The knowledge and the rigorous application of diagnostic algorithms of viral infections will make it possible to save money and to better organize the prevention and management strategies for patients as part of an integrated Hepatitis/HIV program.


Introduction
The prevalence of coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is estimated in France at 24.3% in 2004 [1] [2] and 0.7% in Congo-Brazzaville [3].In the context of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-hepatitis C or HIV-hepatitis B has emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons in the absence of clinical management, making identification of these cases crucial.A study has shown that the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on survival has unmasked chronic liver disease from viral hepatitis B or hepatitis C as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in individuals with HIV infection [4].Thus, for a best clinical management of patients, it is recommended to systematically screenning for all these viruses before starting an anti-HIV, antiviral B or anti-viral C treatment.For HIV screening, rapid diagnostic tests are recommended.In the era of ART scaling-up in Africa, significant proportions of false positive but also false negative results are still observed with HIV screening tests commonly used in Africa, resulting in inadequate treatment and prevention strategies [5].In addition, low specificities of HIV diagnostic tests are currently reported in situation of comorbidities.For example, in study conducted in RDC, Lejon et al. reported low specificities of HIV Diagnostic Tests Caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Sleeping Sickness [6].For this study, we report a clinical observation which poses the problem of a possible cross-reaction between the serology of viral hepatitis C and the human immunodeficiency virus infection by rapid diagnostic orientation tests.Our patient had given his written consent for the case report to be published.

Case Report
November 26, 2012, Mr. KA.J. aged 61, fisherman, living in a village located at the bank of Congo River, consults a sexologist for erectile dysfunction due to a bilateral hydrocele. Patient antecedents: Mr. KA.J is married, polygamous and father of 8 children.He has suffered several times from urogenital infections that have left sequelaes of epididymitis and hydrocele objectified with testicular ultrasound.He is not a smoker; he occasionally consumed alcohol at a rate of 50 to 100 g per circumstance.He has no previous surgical history; he had suffered a mild head injury without loss of consciousness several years ago.He had an untreated gingival hypertrophy in the upper central region and complained of chronic headaches for which the neurological, ophthalmological and otorhinolaryngological examinations were normal.
After a preoperative assessment deemed satisfactory by the anesthesiologist, Mr. KA.J. underwent a cure of hydrocele on 02/02/2016 by a urologist with uncomplicated postoperative follow-ups. History of the disease: On 04/05/2016, three months after the cure of hydrocele treatment, Mr KA.J. consults for a progressive weight loss and polyarthralgia without fever.
• Physical examination: The general state was preserved; however we noted a weight loss of 5 kg; the F. Bossali  Abdominal ultrasound showed homogeneous hepatomegaly with a liver span measured at 140 mm (Figure 1) and splenomegaly (Figure 2), but signs of portal hypertension or cirrhosis were not detected.
• Biological findings: The complete blood count (CBC) was normal with a hemoglobin 13.TRODs are serological tests performed on whole blood, serum (plasma) or gingival fluid according to the manufacturer's instructions.
In Congo-Brazzaville in 2016:  For the diagnosis of HIV infection: we had two quick tests: Abbott DetermineR, Immunocomb Bispot and Quick Check TM .The only 4th generation ELISA confirmatory technique available was mini VIDAS VIKIA HIV ½ from BIOMERIEUX laboratories.The search for HIV 1 and 2 viral RNA by real-time PCR techniques electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) using Roche COBAS 8000 system for our patients was not available, prompting us to send blood samples to the CERBA laboratory in Paris.Moreover we could not perform the confirmation test by Western Blot for three reasons: 1. non-availability in Congo-Brazzaville; 2. high cost; 3. The Western Blot only detects the anti-HIV 1 and 2 antibodies, it does not detect the viral particles (HIV antigen) whereas the test by the mini VIDAS VIKIA HIV 1/2 assay detects both HIV 1 and 2, the IgM antibodies, IgG antibodies P24 antigen and HIV antigen (viral particles).For these reasons, it was financially inaccessible for our patient to pay for Western Blot at the CERBA laboratory in Paris.Indeed with a high CD4 rate, a negative miniVIDAS test and a negative two-control viral load, we definitively concluded that MR KA.J. was HIV-negative  For the diagnosis of HCV infection: we had the following rapid tests: Immunocomb and Quick Step Ac HVC.The confirmation of infection by RT-PCR by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) using Roche COBAS 8000 system, determination of genotype, hepatitis C virus subtype, and evaluation of fibrosis by Fibrostest-Actitest or fibroscan was not available; so we sent blood samples from our patients for analysis to the CERBA laboratory in Paris.
Our patient was tested positive for HVC by both rapid tests; Abbott Determine R, Immunocomb Bispot and Quick CheckTM with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 99.40%, respectively.The matrix used was capillary whole blood on the finger whose chances of obtaining an exact result are less compared to the plasma [9].Our patient is carrying a replicative viral C infection; did the presence of IgG anti-HCV antibodies positively cross-react with the two rapid tests for HIV? Tests are a non-automated diagnostic technique designed to give a fast result in 30 minutes maximum.Tests used for nearly 20 years worldwide are used for emergency tests in developing countries nowadays.However, in developing countries such as Congo-Brazzaville, screening tests are still useful tools for diagnosis of HIV infection and viral hepatitis B and C, because of their low cost and the simplicity of the technique.But it is important to remember that these tests are only for diagnosis orientation and not for the biological diagnosis, obliging any practitioner to seek confirmation before treatment initiation [8]

Conclusion
The clinical case that we have just reported illustrates that it is still difficult for us (in Congo-Brazzaville) to adopt a conventional diagnostic approach for the management of human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B and C viruses infections.Rapid diagnostic orientation tests remain to this day useful tools in the diagnostic algorithm for viral infections in developing countries.However, scientific validation and by international and local health authorities of the must be required before they are made available to practitioners.The knowledge and the rigorous application of the diagnostic algorithms of viral infections by the practitioners as mentioned earlier will make it possible both to save resources and to take good care of the patients.Having said that, it is important to implement an integrated Hepatitis/HIV national program in Congo-Brazzaville.
et al.
[9].Our patient false positive with HIV screening tests suggest low specificity these tests caused by viral hepatitis C. although we have not found previous studies of false HIV positive patient among VHC patients, the low specificity of HIV screening test reported with trypanosomiasis is a major argument support-F.Bossali et al.DOI: 10.4236/ojgas.2018.85018165 Open Journal of Gastroenterology ing our results..In the medical literature, it is -argued that a false positive for a serological test depends on the antibodies of HIV carrier-patient, but also on the characteristics of each test.For example, multi-pregnant women, multi-transfused and multi-transplanted patients develop HLA antibodies that react with ELISA or Western Blot test and give a false positive serology result., the presence of IgG antibodies could also have previously been in contact with leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria, tetanus toxin vaccination, chronic hepatitis of alcoholic origin [7] [14] [18] [19] [20].However, it is knowledge that the use of HIV screening tests with low specificities has implications in public health including inclusion HIV negative people in ART programs and increase budgets in addition to inconveniences caused to patients.