Comparative study of tissue culture and ELISA methods for cytomegalovirus infection diagnosis in abortions

Primary infection of cytomegalovirus especially in first and second trimester of pregnancy causes severe tissue injury and congenital abnormalities. Infection in third trimester of pregnancy has a higher chance of transmission but less tissue injury. Elisa method is a simple test for diagnosis of serum antibody but blood lymphocytes culture is a better and more specific diagnostic method than Elisa. In this study we compared Elisa and tissue culture methods for the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus infections. In this study 5 ml of blood obtained from mothers who aborted their fetuses. Then serum antibody was titrated by ELISA method. Moreover, 5ml of citrated blood with 2 ml of Ficohl hypaque centrifuged in 3000 g and buffy coat layer of leukocytes was separated. These cells cultured in MRC5 fibroblast cell line and were assessed for intracellular inclusion bodies after 72 hours. Positive samples were selected and tested for nucleic acids of cytomegalovirus with PCR method. In this study, 118 cases of abortion were included. In tissue culture method, 6 samples [7.2%] had intracellular inclusion body. Of these samples only 4 had cytomegalovirus nucleic acid by PCR method. Two cases showed increasing anti-cytomegalovirus IgM with ELISA but they were negative by tissue culture method. In general, 6 cases [7.2%] of cytomegalovirus infection were diagnosed. ELISA and tissue culture methods should be performed together. Cytomegalovirus infection has not likely any relation with habitual abortion and is seen in first time abortions preferably

Epidemiology and risk factors of 377 AIDS [HIV infected] patients

Oral manifestations of HIV infection are common and include oral lesions and novel presentations of previously known opportunistic diseases. Some risk factors are significantly contributed to probability of developing opportunistic infection of oral candidiasis. We have performed the current survey to evaluate their role in Iranian patients with HIV infection. Totally, 377 documented HIV infected patients were included. Oral candidiasis was investigated with clinical observation, direct smear, and culture. Meanwhile, CD4 count was determined at the first visit and following antiretroviral therapy. The study population included 316 males and 60 females with a mean age of 36.5 +/- 8.7 years. Patients were diagnosed for a mean duration of 2.9 years. The most common route of infection transmission was shared needles [117 cases or 31%]. In serologic tests, 11 cases [2.9%] were positive for HBsAg, 206 cases [71.5%] for HCV nucleic acid and 53 cases [14.1%] for tuberculosis infection. At the first visit 52 cases [13.9%] and following HAART 31 cases [8.2%] were revealed to have oral candidiasis. Mean CD4 count in patients with oral candidiasis was significantly less than other patients [193.8 vs. 349.7 cells, P=0.0001]; however, the difference was not significant at follow up. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection may have a significant role in prognosis and clinical course of patients with HIV infection and could decrease the rate of opportunistic infections