Oral Lesions and Dental Caries Status in Vertically HIV- Infected Children: an Epidemiological Survey at the Sanpathong Hospital, Chiang Mai

The objective of the cross-sectional study was to describe the prevalence of oral lesions and dental caries status in perinatally HIV-infected children who regularly visited the Sanpathong Hospital, Chiang Mai. Twenty-eight children with perinatal HIV infection, from 4 years and 9 months to 12 years of age, were included in this study. The children were examined for oral lesions and dental caries using modified WHO record forms. CD4 counts and history of receiving ART were also recorded. Samples of candidal culture were collected by oral swab. The results revealed that a total of 28.57% of the children had one or more lesions. Erythematous candidiasis was the most common oral lesion. By culture technique, yeasts were isolated from 16/28 (57.14 %) of the children. All children had a history of receiving ART for more than one year. Three children had CD4 counts less than 200 cells/ml while twenty-five children had CD4 count more than 200 cells/ml. The mean DMFT and DMFS scores were 2.07 and 3.32, respectively. The dft and dfs were 3 and 6.57, respectively. In conclusion, the prevalence of oral lesions appeared to be lower than that described in other studies in Northern Thailand. These findings suggest that the use of ART could lead to reduction in prevalence of HIV-associated oral lesions. Furthermore, appropriate care for oral lesions and dental caries was needed for HIV-infected children in Northern Thailand.Keywords: HIV, children, oral lesions, dental caries status, candidiasis, CD4

ISOLATION OF CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS FROM AVIAN DROPPINGS IN CHIANG MAI FROM DECEMBER 2005 TO MAY 2006

We investigated the occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans in avian droppings collected in the Chiang Mai area and Chiang Mai Zoo, from December 2005 to May 2006. A total of 360 avian dropping samples, comprising 263 from myna, pigeon, dove and chicken in seven districts of Chiang Mai and 97 from 27 avian species in Chiang Mai Zoo, were collected and studied. Antibiotic-treated suspensions of each sample were streaked onto L-dopa agar plates for the isolation of C. neoformans. Cultures were incubated at 37° C for 10 days. Suspected smooth black pigmented colonies were identified using microscopic morphology, India ink preparation and biochemical tests. Of the 263 samples, C. neoformans was isolated from 16/61 (26.2%) pigeon droppings, 2/10 (20.0%) dove droppings and 1/189 (0.5%) chicken droppings. Of the 97 samples collected from 27 avian species in Chiang Mai Zoo, C. neoformans was isolated from 1/9 (11.1%) red-billed hornbill droppings. Environmental sources of C. neoformans in Chiang Mai are from wild pigeon and dove droppings. C. neoformans in domestic chicken droppings was a rare occurrence in this study. Among the 27 captive species in Chiang Mai Zoo, avian droppings from red-billed hornbill were positive for this fungus.