No role of herpes simplex virus type 2 [HSV-2] infection on HIV progression in naive HIV patients

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 [HSV-2] is a common infection in human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] patients and may accelerate HIV progression by rising HIV viral load and decreasing CD4 count. However, the available data regarding the influence of HSV-2 seropositivity on HIV progression in HIV individuals are inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to determine HSV-2 seroprevalence in naive HIV patients and normal controls and also investigate the relation of HIV viral load and CD4 count with HSV-2 seropositivity. Subsequently, we investigated the association of HSV-2 serostatus with changing in CD4 count and HIV viral load in our subjects, after one year follow-up

Methods: In this study, 116 naive HIV patients and 85 healthy controls from Tehran, Iran were enrolled. HSV-2 IgG antibody was detected by ELISA. CD4 count was determined by flowcytometry, and serum HIV RNA copy numbers were determined using real-time PCR

Results: The prevalence of HSV-2 IgG was 18.1% in naive HIV patients and 0% in the control group [P = 0.000]. HSV-2 seroconversion was observed in 2.43% of HIV patients after one year. There was no significant difference regarding HSV-2 serostatus with CD4 count and HIV RNA viral load in our study cohort at baseline and after one year

Conclusion: Our results revealed that the prevalence and incidence of HSV-2 infection are low in our HIV cases, and it is negligible in the control group. However, it seems that HIV/HSV2 co-infection has no role on HIV infection acceleration

Low prevalence of brucella agglutinins in blood donors in central province of Iran

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution and has great economic importance. Despite its control in many countries, it remains endemic in Iran. Brucellosis was investigated in many high risk occupational groups; however, few studies on the prevalence of brucellosis among blood donors are available. To determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis antibodies in blood donors, a serological study was carried out in central province of Iran. A total of 897 healthy blood donors with mean age 37.23 +/- 10.9 years were enrolled in the study. Laboratory tests including Standard Tube Agglutination Test [STA] and 2-mercaptoethanol [2ME] agglutination were checked in all samples. STA dilution >/= 1:80, and in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol [2ME] agglutination >/= 20 was considered positive, Out of 897 cases, 11.9% were inhabitants of rural areas. 41.5% had history of consumption of unpasteurized dairy products and 9.3% had history of contact with domestic animals. A very low level of Brucella agglutinins was present in 3[0.33%] of the samples and only one sample [0.11%] was found to be truly positive for Brucella agglutinins. 2ME was negative in all samples. None of these 4 subjects showed signs and symptoms of brucellosis in 6 months follow-up. On the basis of our data, brucellosis has no epidemiological and clinical importance in our blood donors; therefore, it is not recommended to perform screening tests such as, STA and 2ME to identify brucellosis antibodies in the sera of blood donors