Hematological findings and factors associated with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) positivity in cats from southern Brazil / Achados hematológicos e fatores associados a positividade pelo vírus da leucemia felina (felv) e vírus da imunodeficiência felina em gatos do sul do Brasil

Using a retrospective study, 493 cats tested for FeLV and FIV were selected for analysis of the association between hematologic findings and positivity at immunoassay test. Individual and hematologic variables were assessed considering the influence of results using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Out 153 of the 493 cats were positive for FeLV (31%), 50 were positive for FIV (10.1%) and 22 were positive for both FIV and FeLV (4.4%). Multivariate analysis detected significant associations between FeLV infection and age below 1 year (p=0.01), age from 1 to 10 years (p=0.03), and crossbreed (p=0.04). Male cats were more likely to be FIV-positive (p=0.002). Regarding hematological changes, FeLV-positive cats have higher odds to anemia, leukopenia and lymphopenia than FeLV-negative cats. FIV-positive cats are more likely to have anemia than negative. Identification of associated factors related to animal status and correlation of hematological disorders with infection by retroviruses in cats could be useful for detecting these retroviral diseases in cats.(AU)

Através de um estudo retrospectivo, 493 gatos testados para FeLV e FIV foram selecionados para análise da associação entre as alterações hematológicas e a positividade no teste imunoenzimático. Variáveis individuais e hematológicas foram consideradas para verificar a influência dos resultados utilizando análise de regressão logística univariada e multivariada. Um total de 153 de 493 gatos avaliados foram positivos para o FeLV (31%), 50 foram positivos para o FIV (10,1%) e 22 foram positivos para FIV e FeLV (4,4%). Análise multivariada detectou uma associação significativa entre a infecção pelo FeLV e a idade abaixo de 1 ano (P=0,01), idade entre 1 a 10 anos (P=0,03) e raça mista (P=0,04). Gatos machos foram mais predispostos a serem positivos para FIV (P=0,002). Com base nas alterações hematológicas, gatos positivos para o FeLV tem maior odds para apresentar anemia, leucopenia e linfopenia que os negativos. Gatos positivos para FIV possuem maiores chances de apresentarem anemia que os gatos negativos. A identificação dos fatores associados à infecção relacionados ao perfil do animal e a correlação com os distúrbios hematológicos com a infecção, pode ser útil para detecção das doenças retrovirais em gatos.(AU)

Contribution of the Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS) to research on blood transfusion safety in Brazil

The Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS) program was established in the United States in 1989 with the purpose of increasing blood transfusion safety in the context of the HIV/AIDS and human T-lymphotropic virus epidemics. REDS and its successor, REDS-II were at first conducted in the US, then expanded in 2006 to include international partnerships with Brazil and China. In 2011, a third wave of REDS renamed the Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study-III (REDS-III) was launched. This seven-year research program focuses on both blood banking and transfusion medicine research in the United States of America, Brazil, China, and South Africa. The main goal of the international programs is to reduce and prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other known and emerging infectious agents through transfusion, and to address research questions aimed at understanding global issues related to the availability of safe blood. This article describes the contribution of REDS-II to transfusion safety in Brazil. Articles published from 2010 to 2013 are summarized, including database analyses to characterize blood donors, deferral rates, and prevalence, incidence and residual risk of the main blood-borne infections. Specific studies were developed to understand donor motivation, the impact of the deferral questions, risk factors and molecular surveillance among HIV-positive donors, and the natural history of Chagas disease. The purpose of this review is to disseminate the acquired knowledge and briefly summarize the findings of the REDS-II studies conducted in Brazil as well as to introduce the scope of the REDS-III program that is now in progress and will continue through 2018.

Prevalence and risk factors for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HTLV-I/II infection in low-income postpartum and pregnant women in Greater Metropolitan Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil / Prevalência e fatores de risco para a infecção por HIV, sífilis, hepatite B, hepatite C e HTLV-I/II em parturientes e gestantes de baixa renda atendidas na Região Metropolitana de Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brasil

Sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy pose a major risk to the fetus due to vertical transmission. The study's objective was to determine the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and HTLV-I/II infection among low-income postpartum and pregnant women treated in Greater Metropolitan Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, and the risk factors associated with these infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to October 1999 assessing postpartum and pregnant women from the maternity ward of the Vitória Mercy Hospital and the Carapina Outpatient Referral Unit in the Municipality of Serra, respectively. Patients were systematically interviewed and had blood samples drawn for serological tests (HIV 1&2, VDRL, HbsAg, anti-HCV, and HTLV-I/II). A total of 534 patients (332 postpartum and 202 pregnant women) were assessed. Seroprevalence rates for the target infections in postpartum and pregnant women and the overall sample were as follows, respectively: HIV 0.9 percent, 0 percent, and 0.6 percent; syphilis 2.1 percent, 3.6 percent, and 2.7 percent; HBV 1.2 percent, 1 percent, and 1.1 percent; HCV 1.8 percent, 0.6 percent, and 1.4 percent; and HTLV-I/II 1.7 percent, 0.6 percent, and 1.3 percent. Factors associated with the various infections are presented and analyzed in light of other research findings from the literature.

A ocorrência de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis durante a gravidez representa risco aumentado de morbidade e mortalidade para o feto e neonato em virtude da transmissão vertical. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a prevalência da infecção por HIV, sífilis, hepatites B e C e por HTLV-I/II em parturientes e gestantes de baixa renda da Região Metropolitana de Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brasil, e avaliar fatores de risco associados a essas infecções. Foi realizado estudo de corte transversal de fevereiro a outubro de 1999, avaliando 534 pacientes (332 parturientes e 202 gestantes). Todas as participantes foram submetidas a entrevista semi-estruturada, após a qual foi coletada uma amostra de sangue para realização de testes sorológicos (HIV 1 e 2, VDRL, HbsAg, anti-HCV e HTLV-I/II). A soroprevalência das infecções estudadas entre as parturientes, as gestantes e no total da amostra foi, respectivamente: HIV 0,9 por cento, 0 por cento e 0,6 por cento; sífilis 2,1 por cento, 3,6 por cento e 2,7 por cento; HBV 1,2 por cento, 1 por cento e 1,1 por cento; HCV 1,8 por cento, 0,6 por cento e 1,4 por cento e HTV-I/II 1,7 por cento, 0,6 por cento e 1,3 por cento. Os fatores associados às infecções avaliadas são descritos e analisados à luz de achados de outros investigadores.

Síndrome retroviral aguda / Acute retroviral syndrome

Säo apresentadas neste trabalho, a relevância da Síndrome Retroviral Aguda (SRA) na evoluçäo da Síndrome da Imunodeficiência humana (VIH) em fase em que ainda o seu portador näo sabe ser fonte deste agente viral. Säo apresentadas características clínicas, laboratoriais, diagnóstico diferencial e tratamento da SRA. O reconhecimento da SRA constitui uma das estratégias de maior importância no efetivo controle em relaçäo à disseminaçäo da SIDA.

Epidemiological characteristics of HTLV-I and II co-infection in Brazilian subjects infected by HIV-1

Serum samples from 895 HIV-1 infected individuals were tested for antibodies against HTLV-I and HTLV-II. The overall prevalence of the co-infection was high (16.3 percent). Epidemiological information was obtained from each subject including gender, age, intravenous drug use (IVDU), blood transfusion, previous diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and sexual behavior. The risks for acquiring retroviral infections other than HIV-1 were evaluated and the prevalence of co-infection was compared according to the AIDS clinical status. We detected seven cases (0.9 percent) of triple infection. HTLV-I co-infection was associated with blood transfusion (p=0.009). Women co-infected by HTLV-I or HTLV-II had a higher risk of AIDS than those infected only by HIV-1 (RR=2.04; 95 percent CI: 1.27-3.27, p=0.007 and RR=3.09; 95 percent CI: 1.07-8.91, p=0.04, respectively). These findings suggest that co-infection by HTLV-I or II in Bahia, Brazil, may modify the clinical course of HIV-1 infection.

Seroprevalence of retrovirus infection in a population of Tanzania bordering HIV-1 epidemic areas

A seroepidemiological survey in the Mara Region of Tanzania investigated a randomly selected population between the ages of 15 and 49 in rural and urban areas; as well as a group including high-risk individuals. Reports on 1272 individuals confirm HIV-1 seropositivity in the rural area at under 3 percent; HLTV-1 is present. Preliminary results in the other two groups suggest a higher seroprevelance