ABSTRACT
Background: The colostrum of HIV-infected mothers contains a high number of HIV copies and is considered highly infectious. Furthermore it contains large numbers of macro- phage and other mononuclear cells that are known to incorporate virus. While prevention protocols in Western countries suggest the interruption of breast feeding; at least for the first few months of life; this practice is not advisable in developing countries. Methodology: The aim of this study was to determine the HIV load and the concentrations of IL-18; IL-16; IL-12; TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in the colostrum of HIV-infected mothers living in Burkina Faso. The women all received nevirapine prophylaxis during labour. Results: The viral load in the colostrum decreased rapidly during the first three days following delivery; while the concentration of IL-18 and IL-16 increased in the same period. IL-12; TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 did not show significant variations in the first three days after delivery. Conclusions: Since the viral load decreases in the colostrum of nevirapine-treated expectant mothers; our data suggest single dose nevirapine combined with interruption of early feeding may have potential as a way to reduce the risk of MTCT
Subject(s)
HIV , Colostrum , Cytokines , Mothers , NevirapineABSTRACT
"Epidemiological surveillance and control of malaria in the central highlands in Madagascar from 1998 to 2000"" : The central highlands in Madagascar are characterized by an unstable occurrence of malaria with the risk of sporadic outbreaks. In major parts of the region DDT indoor spraying campaigns have been carried out from 1993 to 1998. This strategy was in 1999 replaced by another anti-vector intervention program targeting residual foci as detected by a surveillance and early warning system. This system is based on monitoring of presumptive malaria cases in the communities by which the number of presumptive cases exceeded a defined warning threshold value per month. The system was in the follow-up period shown to be very sensitive to variation of the coverage of anti-vector interventions: the number of presumptive cases decreased in the villages in which indoor spraying had been carried out and a minor increase was observed in those villages; where indoor spraying has been suspended. An increase of malaria cases was observed in 44 (20;8"