ABSTRACT
The chemokine receptor CCR5 is a major co-receptor for HIV-1 entry into the host cell. Deletion of 32 bp (Δ32) alters the receptor structure and is associated with the protection against infection. The distribution of allelic variant depends on several factors influencing the epidemiology of HIV infections. Thus, the present study sought to estimate the allelic frequency of the CCR5 gene variant / CCR5Δ32 in blood donor candidates with and without positive serology for HIV-1+ at the HEMOAM Foundation. 239 candidates were enrolled and divided into two groups, HIV-1+ (101 individuals) and HIV- controls (138 individuals). After collecting peripheral blood, DNA was extracted and allele-specific PCR for identification of CCR5Δ32 polymorphism, was performed. The results obtained were analyzed using Stata (v.13). The groups were of similar ages, predominantly male and the distribution of genotypes and alleles were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p=0.725 and p=0.879, respectively). The highest frequency was wild genotype, followed by the heterozygous genotype in both groups (control and the HIV-1+ ). When the frequencies in HIV-1+ subgroups were analyzed, the absence of the allelic variant CCR5Δ32 subgroup ELISA(+) Westen Blot(+) was noted. Therefore, our data indicate that CCR5Δ32 polymorphism has a low frequency in the population studied.
Subject(s)
Polymorphism, Genetic , HIV-1 , Amazonian EcosystemABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: With 99% of the cases in Brazil, malaria is endemic in the Amazon region. Transfusion-transmitted malaria, an important risk in endemic areas, has been reported. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of blood donor candidates at the Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas and evaluate the efficacy of rapid diagnostic tests used for malaria screening of blood donors within endemic regions. METHODS: Between May 2008 and May 2009, 407 blood donor candidates were selected and grouped based on the Malaria Annual Parasite Index of the geographic area in which they originated: Group 1 (eligible donors - n = 265) originated from areas of low to medium risk of exposure to malaria and Group 2 (ineligible donors - n = 142) originated from high-risk areas. All samples were concurrently screened using two immunochromatic antigen-based rapid tests and by the thick smear test. RESULTS: All samples were negative by all three methods. The demographic profile indicated that the majority of participants were male, ages ranged from 18 to 39 years and less than half the candidates had only elementary schooling. Two issues need to be addressed: one is the ineligibility of donors and its impact on blood donor centers as, in this study, 22.7% of the donors were considered ineligible. The other is the limited sensitivity of the parasitological tests used, allowing a risk of false-negative results. CONCLUSION: New methods are needed to ensure transfusion safety without rejecting potential donors, which would ensure safe transfusion without harming the blood supply...