Abstract
Aim To study the asymptomatic period preceding the onset of active VL in HIV‐infected individuals from VL endemic regions in Ethiopia as an avenue to develop an evidence‐based screen and treat strategy to prevent progression to active VL.Primary:
1. To estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania infection .
2. To estimate the incidence rate of asymptomatic Leishmania infection.
3. To describe the evolution of Leishmania infection markers over time.
4. To estimate the incidence rate of active VL.
5. To identify risk factors associated with the development of active VL.
6. To translate these risk factors into a clinical prognostic tool to identify individuals at high risk to develop active VL within 12 months .
Secondary:
1. To identify patterns in host immune markers that are associated with asymptomatic Leishmania infection.
2. To describe the evolution of host immune markers over time.
3. To identify patterns in host immune markers that are associated with treatment failure.
4. To identify patterns in host immune markers that are associated with VL relapse.
