[HIV and risk factors for the blood donors at the central hospital of Yaounde, Cameroon]. / VIH et facteurs de risque chez les donneurs de sang de remplacement familiaux et les bénévoles à l'hôpital central de Yaoundé, Cameroun.

The HIV/AIDS infection is in a permanent progress in Cameroon. Through this descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, we aimed to compare the occurrence of the HIV by taking into account the risks factors that are significantly associated with HIV. The investigation was carried out from 1 January till 31 December 2009 in the Blood Bank of the Central Hospital of Yaounde in Cameroon. A structured questionnaire was proposed to collect socio-demographic and risk behavioral information. Venous blood was collected for HIV antibody testing. Generalized estimating equation with logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for HIV infection. In all, 5 058 persons were included in this study. Serological examination revealed a total prevalence of 5.4% of HIV infection in the population studied. The family/replacement donors constituted the majority (69.5%) and showed a higher risk of seropositivity of HIV than the benevolent donors in raw analysis; but after adjustment, the family donors had the same risk of seropositivity of HIV than voluntary blood donors (aOR = 1.00). Variables such as homosexual intercourse (aOR = 1.61), to have already made a screening test of HIV (aOR = 1.83), mobility (aOR = 2.24), treatment and records of STI (aOR = 3.81), use of the condom (aOR = 6.63), more than one sexual partner (aOR = 8.40) remained significantly linked to the result of the HIV serology and constituted risk factors that will be emphasized during the selection of the donors.

Seroconversion of calves following intravenous injection with embryos exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in vitro.

Two recent studies demonstrated that a high-affinity isolate of BVDV (SD-1), remained associated with a small percentage of in vivo-derived bovine embryos following artificial exposure to the virus and either washing or trypsin treatment. Further, the embryo-associated virus was infective in an in vitro environment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if the quantity of a high-affinity isolate of BVDV associated with single-washed or trypsin-treated embryos could cause infection in vivo. Twenty zona-pellucida-intact morulae and blastocysts (MB) were collected on day 7 from superovulated cows. After collection, all MB were washed according to International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) standards, and all but 4 MB (negative controls) were exposed for 2 h to 10(5)-10(6) cell culture infective doses (50% endpoint) per milliliter (CCID(50)/mL) of viral strain SD-1. Following exposure, according to IETS standards, one half of the MB were washed and one half were trypsin treated. All MB were then individually sonicated, and sonicate fluids were injected intravenously into calves on day 0. Blood was drawn to monitor for viremia and(or) seroconversion. Seroconversion of calves injected with sonicate fluids from washed and trypsin-treated embryos occurred 38% and 13% of the time, respectively. Therefore, the quantity of a high-affinity isolate of BVDV associated with single-washed or trypsin-treated embryos was infective in vivo.

Prenatal diagnostic and prognostic value of human cytomegalovirus load and IgM antibody response in blood of congenitally infected fetuses.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) load and virus-specific IgM were quantified in blood of 36 fetuses from mothers with primary HCMV infection. Nineteen fetuses were congenitally infected and 17 were uninfected as diagnosed by virus isolation from and DNA detection in amniotic fluid. Sensitivity of antigenemia was 57.9%; of viremia, 55. 5%; of leukoDNAemia, 82.3%; and of IgM, 57.9%; specificity was 100% for all assays. When amniocentesis was performed, 4 HCMV-infected fetuses (group A) showed abnormal ultrasound and biochemical/hematologic findings, 8 (group B) had elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase values, and 7 (group C) had normal ultrasound and biochemical findings. Virus loads were higher in groups A and B than in group C. In group A, no pregnancy went to term, in group B, 3 of 6 newborns were symptomatic at birth, and in group C, the 6 newborns were subclinically infected. Taken together, virologic, laboratory, and ultrasound findings may contribute to a better prognostic definition of fetal HCMV infection.

Use of transabdominal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis for detection of equid herpesvirus 1-induced fetal infection in utero.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate transabdominal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis for detection of equid herpes-virus 1 (EHV-1)-induced fetal infection in utero. ANIMALS: 4 Welsh Mountain mares. PROCEDURE: Pregnant mares were inoculated intranasally with EHV-1 during the ninth month of gestation. Amniocentesis was initiated on postinoculation day (PID) 12, and was performed at 2- to 3-day intervals in standing mares under deep sedation. Amniotic fluid samples were tested by virus isolation (VI), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunoperoxidase cytologic examination (IC) for detection of EHV-1. RESULTS: Exposure to EHV-1 in the ninth month of gestation resulted in nasal shedding of infective virus, establishment of cell-associated viremia, and seroconversion. Equid herpesvirus 1 was detected by VI, PCR, and IC in amniotic fluid collected on PID 14 from 1 mare and on PID 16 and 17 from a second mare. Specimens of amniotic fluid from a third mare were VI negative until PID 18, when collections ceased, although this mare subsequently aborted an EHV-1-infected fetus on PID 28. The fourth mare aborted an EHV-1 infected fetus on PID 14. The 2 mares with VI-positive amniotic fluid were each carrying an EHV-1 infected fetus in utero, confirmed by examination of the uterus, placenta, and fetus, using specific immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Endothelial cells in the endometrium and allantochorion were often virus-infected, with accompanying vascular lesions. The fetus had been infected via the chorionic vasculature in the first and fourth mares, and by inhalation of infected amniotic fluid in the second mare. CONCLUSION: Amniocentesis permits specific detection of EHV-1-induced fetal infection in utero. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Amniocentesis may have a clinical role in the specific identification and isolation of mares carrying virus-infected fetuses during EHV-1-induced abortion epizootics.

The effects of maternal influenzal viraemia in late gestation on the conceptus of the pregnant ferret.

Pregnant ferrets were inoculated intra-cardially on day 30 of gestation with influenza virus. The animals were sacrificed on days 5 to 11 after inoculation and the products of conception including the uterus were examined virologically and histopathologically. The results indicate that the initial site of infection of the conceptus is the haemophagous organ and that spread occurs from this site to the endometrium, placental labyrinth and fetus. Lesions in the fetus are confined to the liver and respiratory tract. In the liver they may represent either a viral hepatitis or a secondary response to placental damage resulting in the stimulation of erythropoiesis. In the respiratory tract they first occur in the nasal sinuses and upper airways suggesting that infection is via the amniotic fluid rather than via the blood stream. The relevance of these findings to human pregnancy is discussed.