Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 among Leprosy Patients in Zaire

This letter to the editor discusses a possible misinterpretation made in a previously published article. It addresses several of that articles findings and offers counter opinions. The article had concluded that there may be an overdiagnosis of HIV infections in populations that also have a high prevalence of various mycobacterial infections. The letters authors point out studies that were not cited and that could have altered some of the articles contested conclusions. They also point out the lack of a completely random selection method for identifying study patients and that comparisons that were made were inappropriate (pregnant urban women were compared with Zairian rain forest people). Several case measurement criteria were missing including those for leprosy patients. The prevalence of several antibodies is discussed and it is shown that several of the articles key findings were actually of minor significance and not unusual. The letters authors also state that in their opinion and based on the data presented in the article the articles conclusions were unjustified.