Where parasites were seen, the number per 200 white blood cells (WBC) on the thick film was counted and multiplied by 40 to give number of parasites per microliter (parasite density, assuming 8000 WBC per μL as per World Health Organization recommendations for Africa) [13]. GSK126 solubility dmso In thin films, parasite detection (where possible) and species confirmation was done by scanning for a similar duration. A 10 mL aliquot from each

urine sample was filtered through 25 mm, 12 μm Millipore filters on Swinnex filter holders. After filtration, the filter was placed onto a glass slide using blunt forceps adding a drop of saline and a glass coverslip. The filter was then examined at the NIMR laboratory under light microscopy for the eggs of S. haematobium. Stool samples were examined

at the NIMR laboratory for quantitative egg counts for S. mansoni, hookworm, S stercoralis, A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and Taenia spp. using the Kato-Katz method [14] and [15]. The stool samples were first homogenised by passing through a sieve, and then a 41.7 mg template was used. The faecal portion was covered with a cellophane square that had been soaked in malachite green and glycerol. The sample was examined immediately and then again after 24 h. Eggs were counted and expressed as eggs per gram of faeces. For quality control, a random sample of 10% of positive and negative stool slides were sent Z-VAD-FMK price to the Uganda Virus Research Institute/Medical Research Council laboratories in Entebbe for repeat Kato-Katz testing. In addition, charcoal culture was used to confirm S. stercoralis in a subset of samples. Approximately 50 mg of unfixed fresh faeces before were mixed with distilled water in a 20 mL universal tube [16]. To this suspension an equal volume of granulated hardwood charcoal was added. After mixing, the suspension was placed over a wet disc of filter paper in a petri dish and stored in the dark at room temperature. The petri dishes were observed daily for the presence

of larvae for a week under a dissection microscope, adding water to the filter paper as needed. As part of the HPV 021 trial, serological assays for immunogenicity were performed at a GSK laboratory in Belgium. ELISA was used to determine antibodies to HPV-16 and HPV-18 as described previously [17]. As there are no established immunological correlates of protection for HPV-16 or HPV-18, immunogenicity was determined in terms of seroconversion rates and geometric mean antibody titres (GMTs). Seropositivity was defined as an antibody titre greater than or equal to the assay threshold of 8 ELISA units (EU)/mL for HPV-16 and 7 EU/mL for HPV-18 [17]. Data were double entered and verified in DMSys® (SigmaSoft International) and analysed using STATA11.0 (StataCorp LP; College Station, Texas, USA). Sociodemographic characteristics of participants attending the Month 7 visit were tabulated by infection status and overall.