Genetic subtypes of HIV type 1 circulating in Slovakia.

Slovakia belongs to the group of European countries with a low prevalence of HIV infection. The major proportion of HIV-positive cases in Slovakia is still represented by MSM, followed by heterosexuals infected through unprotected sexual intercourse. This study was conducted to update the description of HIV subtypes circulating in Slovakia. HIV-1 partial pol gene sequences from 143 individuals were prospectively collected from 2004 to 2008 and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis based on HIV-1 partial pol gene sequences revealed the highest prevalence of HIV-1 B subtype (93.0 %), predominantly associated with the MSM group. Ten (7.0%) individuals were infected with HIV-1 non-B subtypes. The pure subtypes were more frequent (7; 4.9%) than CRFs (3; 2.1%) and their occurrence was as follows: subtype C (3; 2, 1%), subtype A (2; 1.4%), subtype F (2; 1.4%), CRF_01AE (1; 0.7%), CRF_02AG (1; 0.7%), and CRF08_BC (1; 0.7%). Data show slightly increasing HIV-1 subtype diversity, with HIV-1 subtype B still having the highest prevalence in the Slovak-infected population.

HIV prevalence and clinical care for HIV-positive pregnant women in Slovakia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical care for HIV positive pregnant women who delivered in Slovakia from 1985 till 2008. BACKGROUND: National guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV have not yet been established. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of 14 HIV-infected pregnant women and their infants. Factors examined include maternal social, demographic, immunological and virological characteristics, method of HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, mode of delivery, mode of infant feeding, pregnancy outcomes and HIV status of infants. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the increase in cases of HIV-infected pregnant women within the last several years, it would be advisable to create National Guidelines for PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission) in order to consolidate the care management in all HIV/AIDS care centers around Slovakia (Fig. 4, Ref. 7).

Discrimination between Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis isolated from HIV-positive patients by using commercial method in comparison with PCR assay.

Nineteen clinical isolates of Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis were isolated from patients (majority of them HIV-positive) in Slovakia, Brazil, Thailand and Japan. Species discrimination was performed by using growth on CHROMagar Candida, commercial biochemical set API 20C AUX, germ-tube test in human serum, growth at 42 and 45 degrees C on Sabouraud-dextrose agar as well as on CHROMagar Candida, assimilation of D-xylose and methyl alpha-D-glucoside by glass-tube test, and production of chlamydospores. These tests were completed by PCR using Cd-oligo2/F and Cd-oligo2/R primer pair specific for C. dubliniensis. Six clinical isolates were confirmed to be C. dubliniensis, remaining 13 strains were determined as C. albicans. The use of conventional method showed that the determination is markedly influenced by personal evaluation suggesting the necessity of using the combination of many tests to obtain correct results comparing with accurate and rapid PCR assay. For discrimination between C. albicans and C. dubliniensis we recommend the combination of primo-cultivation on CHROMagar, followed by germ-tube test and PCR.

Prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus 2 among homosexual men either positive or negative for human immunodeficiency viruses in Slovakia.

We determined the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2, HSV-2 antibodies) in sera of homosexual men either positive for human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1, HIV+, a group of 27 sera) or negative for HIV-1 and HIV-2 (HIV-, a group of 52 sera) in Slovakia. Antibodies to HSV-2 glycoprotein G-2 (gG-2, gG-2 antibodies) were determined by a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and immunoblot analysis. We found that 40% of HIV+ and 23% of HIV- homosexual men were positive for the gG-2 antibodies, what is 3.6 and 2.1 times higher incidence, respectively, than that in the control heterosexual population (Bystrická et al., Acta Virol. 42, 319-324, 1998). Identification of individuals infected with genital herpes among HIV+ and HIV- homosexual men should be succeeded by antiviral therapy in order to prevent transmission of HSV-2 and HIV as well in this community.

Antibody responses to the herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein G in sera of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Slovakia.

Thirty sera of human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) and 37 sera of HIV-negative (HIV-) individuals in Slovakia were tested for the presence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein G (gG). A notable difference between the prevalence of HSV-2-specific antibodies in HIV+ and that in HIV- individuals was found (37% vs. 11%) confirming and extending previous reports that HSV-2 infection is an important risk factor for HIV transmission. Efforts toward the detection of HSV-2 infection and its therapy by anti-HSV drugs should be considered an important factor in decreasing the risk of contracting and spreading of HIV in Slovakia.

[AIDS and the eye]. / AIDS a oko.

We are observing a patient who is HIV positive since 1987 and in 1992 he got sick of AIDS. The first ophthalmologist symptom of the illness was a blurred disc margin of the optic nervehead with minor peripapillary hemorrhages and reduction of his visual acuity. After two months the condition of the fundus has improved but on the eyelash in the nasal half a Kaposi sarcoma is emerging. After six month of being sick of AIDS we are observing a reduction of visual acuity on the left eye and we diagnosed a Cytomegalic viral retinitis which is also confirmed serologically. Inspite of the treatment by Gancyclovir his condition is not improving and minor hemorrhages as well as microaneurysms are emerging also in macular area of the right eye.