High HPV genetic diversity in women infected with HIV-1 in Brazil.

The present study on genetic diversity of human papillomaviruses in women infected by HIV in Brazil describes the frequency, the genotypes, and five new variants of HPV. One hundred fifty cervical smears of HIV-positive women were subjected to cytological examination, and the DNA samples obtained were assayed by MY09/MY11 amplification, followed by RFLP typing. The overall HPV-DNA-positive rate was 42.7%. One hundred twenty-two samples (81.3%) had benign cellular alterations or normal cytological results, and HPV DNA frequency among them was 30.3%. Otherwise, 96.4% of samples with altered cytology were positive for HPV DNA. A high diversity of genotypes was observed. HPVs-16 and 81 were the most prevalent (14.1%) and were followed by HPVs 52, 35, 62, 33, 53, 56, 66, 70, 18, 58, 6b, 11, 31, 39, 40, 61, 71, 32, 54, 59, 67, 68, 85, and 102. Five new variants of the high-risk HPVs 18, 33, 53, 59, and 66 were detected. Possible associations between the detection of HPV genotypes and the cytological classification, HIV viral load, CD4 count, and antiretroviral treatment were also examined. We observed that a high proportion of HIV-infected women are infected with HPV and may carry oncogenic genotypes, even when cytological evaluation shows normal results.

Human group C rotavirus in children with diarrhea in the Federal District, Brazil

Group C rotaviruses are fastidious in their in vitro cell culture requirements. Recent serosurveys indicate that antibody to group C rotavirus is present in 3-45 per cent of the human population in certain geographic locations, suggesting that rotavirus group C infection is more prevalent than previously believed and that the low rate of detection of these agents is probably due to the lack of sensitive diagnostic assays. From March to December 1994, 406 fecal specimens were collected from children under five years of age who were outpatients at the emergency services of nine public hospitals in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. In addition to the samples from children, one public outpatient unit requested virological investigation of a stool sample from an HIV-seropositive adult male with diarrhea of sudden onset. All samples were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay for group A rotavirus and adenovirus (EIARA) and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). One hundred and seven (26 per cent) were positive for group A rotavirus. Four samples from children and the sample from the HIV-seropositive patient, although negative by EIARA, showed a group C rotavirus profile by PAGE and were positive for rotavirus by electron microscopy. Using specific VP6 and VP7 primers for group C rotavirus, a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed and products were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. These products were confirmed to be specific for group C rotavirus by using digoxigenin-oligonucleotide probes, Southern hybridization and chemiluminescent detection. The five positive group C rotavirus samples were detected in August (3 samples) and September (2 samples). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of group C rotavirus detected in the Federal District, Brazil and in an HIV-seropositive patient with acute gastroenteritis.

Human group C rotavirus in children with diarrhea in the Federal District, Brazil.

Group C rotaviruses are fastidious in their in vitro cell culture requirements. Recent serosurveys indicate that antibody to group C rotavirus is present in 3-45% of the human population in certain geographic locations, suggesting that rotavirus group C infection is more prevalent than previously believed and that the low rate of detection of these agents is probably due to the lack of sensitive diagnostic assays. From March to December 1994, 406 fecal specimens were collected from children under five years of age who were outpatients at the emergency services of nine public hospitals in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. In addition to the samples from children, one public outpatient unit requested virological investigation of a stool sample from an HIV-seropositive adult male with diarrhea of sudden onset. All samples were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay for group A rotavirus and adenovirus (EIARA) and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). One hundred and seven (26%) were positive for group A rotavirus. Four samples from children and the sample from the HIV-seropositive patient, although negative by EIARA, showed a group C rotavirus profile by PAGE and were positive for rotavirus by electron microscopy. Using specific VP6 and VP7 primers for group C rotavirus, a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed and products were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. These products were confirmed to be specific for group C rotavirus by using digoxigenin-oligonucleotide probes, Southern hybridization and chemiluminescent detection. The five positive group C rotavirus samples were detected in August (3 samples) and September (2 samples). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of group C rotavirus detected in the Federal District, Brazil and in an HIV-seropositive patient with acute gastroenteritis.

[Epidemiology of rotavirus infections in the Federal District, Brazil]. / Aspectos epidemiológicos das infecções por rotavírus no Distrito Federal, Brasil.

Rotavirus testing was performed on fecal samples of 607 infants and young children aging from 0 to 6 years with acute diarrhoea between May 1986 and April 1990. Samples were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Rotaviruses were detected in 123 samples (20.27%); from those, 107 (87.00%) were classified as subgroup II (long profile). Rotaviruses were not detected in the control group of healthy children, but it were present in 7.80% of the children hospitalized for other causes but acute diarrhoea. Most of the children with rotavirus infection ranged from 6 to 24 months of age (73.98%). The mean of positive cases during the rainy months (October to April) was of 9.60% and during the dry period was of 34.48%. The highest values were 53.17 and 73.27% in June and July, the coldest months of the year.