Shedding of polyomavirus in the saliva of immunocompetent individuals.

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the frequency of BKV, JCV, WUV, and KIV in the saliva of healthy individuals. Samples were analyzed for the presence of polyomaviruses (BKV, JCV, WUV, and KIV) DNA by real-time PCR. Of the 291 samples tested, 71 (24.3%) were positive for at least one of the screened polyomaviruses. Specifically, 12.7% (37/291) were positive for WUV, 7.2% (21/291) positive for BKV, 2.4% (7/291) positive for KIV, and 0.3% (1/291) positive for JCV. BKV and WUV co-infections were detected in 1.7% (5/291) of individuals. No other co-infection combinations were found. The mean number of DNA copies was high, particularly for WUV and BKV, indicating active replication of these viruses. Polyomavirus detection was higher among individuals 15-19 years of age (46.0%; 23/50) and ≥50 years of age (33.3%; 9/27). However, the detection rate in the first group was almost 1.7× greater than the latter. WUV infections were more frequent in individuals between the ages of 15 and 19 years and the incidence decreased with age. By contrast, BKV excretion peaked and persisted during the third decade of life and KIV infections were detected more commonly in subjects ≥50 years old. These findings reinforced the previous hypotheses that saliva may be a route for BKV transmission, and that the oral cavity could be a site of virus replication. These data also demonstrated that JCV, WUV, and KIV may be transmitted in a similar fashion.

Molecular characterization of viruses associated with gastrointestinal infection in HIV-positive patients

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients worldwide. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the frequency of viral gastrointestinal infections among Brazilian HIV-infected patients with diarrhea. METHODS: A collection of 90 fecal specimens from HIV-infected individuals with diarrhea, previously tested for the presence of bacteria and parasite was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis for the presence of enteric viruses such as astrovirus, norovirus, rotavirus groups A, B and C, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and human bocavirus. RESULTS: Twenty patients (22.2 percent; n = 90) were infected with parasites (11 single infections and nine coinfected with virus). Enteropathogenic bacteria were not found. Virus infections were detected in 28.9 percent (26/90) of the specimens. Cytomegalovirus was the most common virus detected (24.4 percent; 22/90). Coinfections with viruses and/or parasite were observed in 10 (11.1 percent) samples. CONCLUSION: Gastrointestinal virus infections were more frequent than parasitic or bacterial infections in this patient population.

Molecular characterization of viruses associated with gastrointestinal infection in HIV-positive patients.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients worldwide. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the frequency of viral gastrointestinal infections among Brazilian HIV-infected patients with diarrhea. METHODS: A collection of 90 fecal specimens from HIV-infected individuals with diarrhea, previously tested for the presence of bacteria and parasite was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis for the presence of enteric viruses such as astrovirus, norovirus, rotavirus groups A, B and C, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and human bocavirus. RESULTS: Twenty patients (22.2%; n = 90) were infected with parasites (11 single infections and nine coinfected with virus). Enteropathogenic bacteria were not found. Virus infections were detected in 28.9% (26/90) of the specimens. Cytomegalovirus was the most common virus detected (24.4%; 22/90). Coinfections with viruses and/or parasite were observed in 10 (11.1%) samples. CONCLUSION: Gastrointestinal virus infections were more frequent than parasitic or bacterial infections in this patient population.

Astrovirus detection in sporadic cases of diarrhea among hospitalized and non-hospitalized children in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, from 1998 to 2004.

We analyzed 379 stool samples collected from January 1998 through December 2004, from hospitalized and non-hospitalized children with diarrhea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These samples had prior negative results for other enteric viruses and bacterial pathogens. The specimens were analyzed for HAstV detection by RT-PCR. HAstV genotypes were determined by sequence analysis of the RT-PCR products. Twenty (5.3%) out of 379 samples were positive for astrovirus. Astrovirus was equally common among inpatients and outpatients and among different age groups. Of 20 HAstV-infected children, 13 (65%) were either hospitalized or received medical care in the emergence department, which suggests that they had a more severe illness. Only 7 (35%) of the 20 HAstV-infected children attended walk-in clinics, which suggests that they had mild disease. Other then diarrhea, fever was the most common symptom among the HAstV-positive patients, followed by vomit and bloody diarrhea. HAstV-1 was the predominant strain although genotypes 2 and 4 were also found. There was no obvious difference among HAstV strains detected from inpatients or outpatients or among different age groups. The study documented that astrovirus is an agent of acute diarrhea in children who are inpatients or outpatients in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil although it seems to be less common as a single cause of childhood diarrhea then rotavirus.

The in vitro antiviral activity of an aliphatic nitro compound from Heteropteris aphrodisiaca.

We investigated the antiviral activity of an aliphatic nitro compound (NC) isolated from Heteropteris aphrodisiaca O. Mach. (Malpighiaceae), a Brazilian medicinal plant. The NC was tested for its antiviral activity against poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) and bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV-1) by plaque reduction assay in cell culture. The NC showed a moderate antiviral activity against PV-1 and BHV-1 in HEp-2 cells, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) were 22.01 microg/ml (selectivity index (SI)=2.83) and 21.10 microg/ml (SI=2.95), respectively. At the highest concentration of the drug (40 microg/ml) a reduction of approximately 80% in plaque assay was observed for both viruses. The treatment of cells or virus prior to infection did not inhibit the replication of virus strains.