Seroreactivity of HIV among patients attending a tertiary care hospital in North India: a retrospective analysis

Background: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the causative agent of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). It belongs to the lentivirus subgroup of the family Retroviridae. The HIV/AIDS is spreading worldwide at an alarming rate. India has the third largest number of estimated people living with HIV/AIDS. Most common mode of HIV transmission is through heterosexual contact, blood transfusion, percutaneous, mucosal and perinatal mode. The present study was done to evaluate the seroreactivity of HIV among patients attending Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) of our Tertiary care hospital.  Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on data of patients who had attended ICTC and undergone HIV testing from January 2017 to January 2019. A total of 4519 patients were included in the study who gave their consent followed by pre-test and post-test counseling and were screened for HIV antibody by using rapid kit Comb-Aids.Results: Out of 4519 samples tested, 23 were reactive to HIV screening test, hence sero-reactivity of HIV was found to be 0.50%. Higher seroreactivity was seen among males (56.5%, 13/23), and patients aged 31-40 years (39.1%, 9/23). Maximum seroreactivity was found among patients of rural areas (73.9%, 17/23), indoor patients (91.3%, 21/23) and married patients (73.9%, 17/23).Conclusions: In this study the seroreactivity of HIV was found to be low among patients attending ICTC but still HIV continues to be a major contributor to the global burden of disease. ICTC data can be used as an important tool for planning and improving the national HIV/AIDS intervention strategy.

A Study on the Febrile Illness in Autumn among Farmers in Gyeongju-si: Scrub typhus, Leptospirosis, HFRS / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the status of Scrub typhus, Leptospirosis and HFRS(hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) among farmers with febrile illness. METHODS: We involved a total of 841 farmers who had febrile illness(508 and 333 village residents were, respectively, three and four district of Gyeongju city) selected during autumn of 2014 and 2015. Data were collected by survey questionnaires and blood sample examination. RESULTS: Serum response rate for Scrub typhus and Leptospirosis was 1.5% each and 1.9% for HFRS. Serum response rate for Scrub typhus was significantly higher for tick-bite cases(38.5%), while Leptospirosis was significantly higher for those who were in fruit–planting work(23.1%). Similarly, serum response rate was significantly higher for HFRS who were working in venyl green house work(25.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Government authority should develop effective and efficient preventive strategies to create awareness of infectious diseases among farmers. Extending information, education and communication be reached to farmers that could change their perception and help early diagnosis and treatment and reduce the disease burden and its complication.

Anticuerpos séricos IgM e IgG anti-toxoplasma gondii en pacientes con abortos espontáneos: Barquisimeto Estado Lara / IgM and IgG serum antibodies anti-toxoplasma gonfii in patients with spontaneuos abortions: Barquisimeto Estado Lara

Evaluar la relación de abortos y la exposición a la infección toxoplasmósica, la serorreactividad contra Toxoplasma gondii y la exposición a factores de riesgo para toxoplasmosis, así como la presencia de signos o síntomas asociados a esta patología. Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología del Hospital "Dr. Pastor Oropeza Riera", Barquisimeto, Lara. Se estudiaron 51 pacientes con aborto y 51 en puerperio inmediato. Previo consentimiento informado, se les hizo entrevista, examen físico y toma de muestra sanguínea para determinación de anticuerpos IgM e IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii por ELISA. Hubo serorreactividad general anti-Toxoplasma gondii en alrededor de 40 por ciento, encontrando IgM solo en una puérpera (1,96 por ciento) e IgG en 41,2 por ciento de las pacientes con aborto y 35,3 por ciento de las puérperas. No hubo relación entre infección toxoplasmósica y aborto, presencia de signos y/o síntomas de la enfermedad, ni con la ingesta de carnes crudas y el contacto con gatos, pero sí con la exposición a tierra.

To evaluate the relation of abortion and exposition to toxoplasmic infection, the seroreactivity anti-Toxoplasma gondii and exposition to toxoplasmic risk factors as well as, the presence of signs or symptoms associated to this pathology. Service of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Hospital "Dr. Pastor Oropeza Riera", Barquisimeto, Lara. 51 abortion patients and 51 with inmediate puerperium were studied. With previous informed consent, they were interviewed, physical exam and blood samples taken in order to determine anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibody by ELISA. There was general seroactivity anti-Toxoplasma gondii around 40 percent, finding IgM only in a puerperal patient (1.96 percent) and IgG in 41.2 percent of the abortion patients and 35.3 percent of the puerperal patients. Conclusions: There was not relation between toxoplasmic infection and abortion, no presence of signs and/or symptons of the disease, neither with the consumption of raw meat nor contact with cats, but yes with the exposure to soil.

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 humoral immune response and highly active antiretroviral treatment

Highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) of human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) infection is very effective in controlling infection, but elimination of viral infection has not been achieved as yet, and upon treatment interruption an immediate rebound of viremia is observed. A combination of HAART with an immune stimulation might allow treatment interruption without this rebounding viremia, as the very low viremias observed with successful HAART may be insufficient to permit maintenance of a specific anti-HIV-1 immune response. The objective of this study was to compare the humoral immune response of individuals undergoing successful HAART (NF=no failure) with that of individuals with evidence of failure of therapy (FT) and to verify if the viremia peaks observed in individuals with therapy failure would act as a specific stimulus for the humoral anti-HIV-1 immune response. Antibodies binding to gp120 V3 genotype consensus peptides were more frequently observed for FT, mainly against peptides corresponding to sequences of genotypes prevalent in the Rio de Janeiro city area, B and F. HIV-1 neutralization of HIV-1 IIIB and of four primary isolates from Rio de Janeiro was less frequently observed for plasma from the NF than the FT group, but this difference was more expressive when plasma from individuals with detectable viremia were compared to that of individuals with undetectable viral loads in the year before sample collection. Although statistically significant differences were observed only in some specific comparisons, the study indicates that presence of detectable viremia may contribute to the maintenance of a specific anti-HIV-1 humoral immune response.

Seroreactivities of proteinases of Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis in sera from various Candida species-infected mice

From the culture filtrates of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis, proteinases were purified using a series of chromatographic steps consisting of DEAE-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200 and size-exclusion HPLC which removed contaminating mannoproteins and extraneous proteins. Anti-Candida proteinase antibodies in sera from mice infected with various Candida species were detected using ELISA for serodiagnosis of candidiasis. Three proteinases were blotted by homologous and heterologous anti-proteinase antisera on Western blot analysis. All sera from six Candida species-infected mice were reactive with proteinases of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis, although C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, and C. krusei did not secrete proteinase. The seroreactivities of proteinase with sera from mice infected with homologous C. albicans and C. tropicalis were higher than those with sera from heterologous Candida species-infected mice. These results suggest that three proteinases have at least one common epitope, but its application for diagnosis of candidiasis should be considered with limits of specificity.