Two methods for rapid CMV viraemia detection in cell culture with immunoperoxidase staining performed 40 h post-inoculation were compared, on 230 blood samples: (1) a 24-well plate centrifugation assay and (2) a 25-cm2-culture flask technique, without centrifugation. The flask technique was significantly more sensitive than the 24-well plate technique. Moreover, the flask assay was more cost-effective and offered other advantages such as easier sterile handling and less damage of the cell monolayer.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of circulating human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in plasma by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Genomic RNA was detected using a reverse transcription (RT) nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method on plasma from 24 HIV2-infected patients. Results were interpreted based on immune and clinical status and results of plasma and cellular viraemia assays. Amplification of RNA extracted from plasma was positive in 13 of the 24 cases studied (54%). There was a negative correlation between the detection of RNA in plasma and the patients' CD4+ cell counts: all 5 patients with counts below 200 x 10(6)/l were RT-PCR RNA-positive, compared to only 4 of the 12 patients with counts above 500 x 10(6)/l. Cellular viraemia was positive in 12 of the 24 patients, and the results correlated with the CD4+ cell count. HIV2 was isolated from the plasma of 3 of the 24 patients, all of whom had CD4+ cell counts below 200 x 10(6)/l. The small viral load in HIV2-infected patients before the onset of immunodeficiency appeared to be a major limiting factor in the detection of the virus with current tests. The low percentage of RNA-positive plasma samples contrasts with the high rate of positivity in HIV1-infected patients. Differences in viral load and replication between HIV1 and HIV2 correlate with differences in the epidemiology and pathogenicity of the two viruses.

DNA, Viral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The clinical significance of in vitro cytomegalovirus susceptibility to antiviral drugs.

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Cytomegalovirus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative study of single and nested PCR for the detection of proviral HIV2 DNA.

We have tested seven pairs of primers for the detection of HIV2 DNA by single PCR in positive cultures from 21 infected patients. Four of these primer pairs were then used in a comparative study of single and nested PCR for the detection of HIV2 in fresh lymphocytes from 33 patients infected by the virus. HIV2 DNA was detected in 17 of the 33 patients (51.5%) by single PCR and 29/33 (88%) by nested PCR. All the patients negative in both nested and single PCR were asymptomatic and had CD4+ lymphocyte counts of at least 500 x 10(6)/l. This lack of PCR sensitivity for the detection of proviral HIV2 DNA in fresh lymphocytes cannot be totally attributed to genetic variability and may be related to a low viral load in asymptomatic HIV2-infected patients.

Africa, Western↗

PubMedDate not supplied

IgG response against infective larvae of Dirofilaria immitis in experimentally infected cats.

Somatic antigens from third stage larvae of Dirofilaria immitis (SL3) were used to detect IgG response against heartworm infection in 8 experimentally infected cats. A moderate specific anti-SL3 IgG response was found one month post-infection. Afterwards, antibodies decreased reaching a basal level 4 months post-infection and remained at this level until the end of the study. 6 months post-infection. Western blot analysis showed specific recognition of polypeptides of 79, 73, 60, 52, 40 and 39 kDa by sera from infected cats 1 month post-infection, but not by sera taken prior to the infection. The low antigenicity of the SL3 antigen in the cat should allow the parasite to escape the host's immune response.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of meteorologic parameters on acute admission of patients with lumbar intervertebral disk displacement].

The correlation between local meteorological parameters and acute admittance to hospital of patients with lumbar disk prolapses was investigated. The study shows a significant correlation between drop of temperature and increase of humidity for male on the day of admittance and for female on changes from the day before to the day of admittance. This seems to be in contrast with other investigators, who couldn't find a correlation between local meteorological parameters and pain. The reasons for this are discussed.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV antibody, in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil, 1993-1994.

To evaluate the respective part of HIV-1, HIV-2, and human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection in Fortaleza, the principal city of the Ceara state (Northeast of Brazil), a cross-sectional seroepidemiological survey was conducted from July 1993 to February 1994 in 6 selected groups: pregnant women, tuberculosis (Tb) patients, sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients, female and male commercial sex workers (CSWs) and prisoners. Sera were screened by Mixt HIV-1/HIV-2 commercial enzyme immunoassay and ELISA HTLV I/II. Each serum found positive by ELISA was confirmed by Western blot. A total of 2917 persons were interviewed, of whom 2754 (94.4%) agreed to participate and gave a blood sample. Twenty-eight were found to be HIV-1 antibody positive. The prevalence ranged from 0.25% in pregnant women to 2.9% in male CSWs. The prevalence was 1% in STD patients and 0.44% in Tb patients. None of the sera was found positive for HIV-2. The prevalence of antibodies to HTLV-1 varied from 0.12% in pregnant women to 1.21% in female CSWs. Five sera were positive for HTLV-II. These results confirm the hypothesis that the HIV epidemic in Northeastern Brazil is still limited to high risk groups. Repeated cross-sectional surveys of this type should be performed as a surveillance tool to study the dynamics of this epidemic in low prevalence areas. Defining risk factors should allow targeting of intervention strategies.

Antibodies, Viral↗