ABSTRACT
Background: The detection of HIV in Egypt is started by screening for HIV antibodies or antigen by EIA and confirming the reactive samples by Western blot test [WB]. In many countries, a new algorithm has been proposed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that uses an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay instead of WB or immunofluoresence [IFA] for confirmation. The initially reactive specimens are followed by same day confirmation rapid assay that approved by FDA and if this test is negative they make a nucleic acid test [NAT] to confirm
Objectives: comparing different diagnostic tests results with WB result in HIV diagnosis and detecting the accuracy of each assay
Methods: This study was conducted from January 2016 to September 2017 on 100 people who were seeking for HIV diagnosis. Blood samples were tested by Fourth generation Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], Multispot rapid diagnostic test, and nested PCR
Results: The sensitivity was the best with ELISA. PCR was the most specific test, followed by Multispot, and finally ELISA
Conclusion: This algorithm provides accurate results in short time
ABSTRACT
Background: Brucellosis is endemic disease in most of developing countries. It is a disease with non specific symptoms or signs. Definitive diagnosis of this infection is based on the culture of Brucella strains from different samples, mainly blood. A positive result of the cultures depends on varying factors. In the absence of a positive culture, the diagnosis mainly depends on serological tests or PCR. Many researchers reported that brucellosis can affect the pregnancy outcome, so the appropriate diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of pregnant women with brucellosis can be life-saving for the fetus
Aim: This prospective study aimed to evaluate best method of diagnosing brucellosis during pregnancy and its effects on pregnancy outcome in Mansoura university hospital
Methods: This study was conducted from May 2012 to May 2013 on 90 pregnant women [all 20-35 years], clinically suspected of brucellosis. Peripheral blood samples were tested by blood culture, serology using: standard tube agglutination test [STA T], IgM Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [IgM ELISA] and IgG Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [IgG ELISA], and PCR using primer pair to amplify a 223-bp region within a gene coding for a 31-hD Brucella antigen. Positive cases by culture [20 cases] were followed up during pregnancy and compared to 20 negative cases by all tests to determine any effects on pregnancy course
Results: The culture was positive in 20/90 blood samples. Serological testing for the 90 sera showed that 27, 23, and 20 samples were positive for Brucella by STAT, IgM ELISA, and IgG ELISA, respectively. Twenty-six sera were positive for Brucella DNA by PCR. The incidence of spontaneous abortion in the brucellosis positive cases was 20%, in comparison with 15% in the negative cases. Nine preterm deliveries [45%] were reported in pregnancy with brucellosis versus only 2 in the negative group [significantly statistic difference].
Thierr was intrauterine fetal death in brucellosis nor control group
Conclusion: The ELISA IgG 6 :M tests were no superior to the other tests. STAT [> 320] gave best diagnostic results in serological PCR diagnosed six cases that were negative by the culture and near similar result to STAT. Bruc<. s in this study not a cause for spontaneous abortion, however, brucellosis in pregnancy may be a risk / c tc tor for preterm delivery
ABSTRACT
Background: the persistence of hepatitis B virus [HBV] DNA in liver tissue or serum in the absence of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] is called occult hepatitis B infection [OBJ]. Both HBV and hepatitis C virus [HCV] are transmitted parenterally, and coinfection is not uncommon, particularly in countries with a high prevalence of one or both viruses
Aim: this study was conducted to assess OBI prevalence in Egyptian patients with HCV related liver diseases, see if anti-HBc alone can. consider a good marker for detection of OBI, to record the serological profile of occult HB V infected patients, and to detect the clinical impact of this coinfection
Methods: after exclusion of HBsAg positive patients, serum samples from 128 Egyptian patients with HCV related liver diseases were included in our study. All the patients were positive for anti-HCV and HCV RNA, and negative for HBsAg. Serum samples were collected and subjected to fiver function tests and virological assays for HBsAg,
Results: occult HBV infection was detected in 21% of our patients with the highest prevalence found in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] [44.4%] followed by patients with cirrhosis [22.2%] then chronic hepatitis C patients [16.3%]. Occult HBV infection can be found in both patients who show previous hepatitis B infection, [22%], and in those who were negative for anti-HBc, [19%]. Occult HBV infection was detected with the highest prevalence in patients with anti-HBc only [51.8%], followed by patients with negative all serological markers [29.6%], then [11.1%] were anti-HBc and anti-HBs, and finally [7.4%] were anti-HBc and anti. HBe. Patients co-infected with occult hepatitis B had significantly a higher prevalence of sever fibrosis [12/27 OBJ versus 13/101 HCV only infected patient, P<0.01] and significantly higher prevalence of decompensated liver disease [3/4 OBJ versus 3/14 HCV only infected patient, P<0.05]
Conclusion: OBJ is highly prevalent in Egypt. It is frequently associated with HCV-related chronic liver diseases and it may play a major role as an etiological agent for hepatocellular carcinoma in these patients. Occult HBV infection may have a clinical significance as it may increase the liver fibrosis and worsen the liver disease in HCV patients but we think that it doesn't affect the HCV response to combination therapy