EC microbiology最新文献

Sexual contact is the most common route of HIV transmission, and the concurrent presence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus, GC) is known to increase the HIV risk. Antibiotic treatment decreases the incidence of STIs but not HIV. CT and GC activate Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4, which act as sensors of microbial infection are critical for initiating immune responses to control infection. We have previously shown that GC enhances HIV infection of primary resting CD4+ T cells through activation of TLR2 but not TLR4. In this study, we determined the effect of live and fixed CT and different species of lactobacilli including L. jensenii and L. reuteri on HIV infection of freshly isolated PBMCs. We found that pretreatment of freshly isolated PBMCs with fresh or fixed CT, but not lactobacilli, promoted HIV infection of freshly isolated CD4+ T cells. Together with our previous reports, we concluded that STIs such as CT and GC but not commensal bacteria like lactobacilli enhanced HIV infection, possibly through immune activation. Importantly, the enhancement effect of fixed CT on HIV infection may explain the failure of antibiotic treatments to reduce the HIV incidence. Combined strategies to inhibit STI growth and STI-mediated mucosal immune activation should be considered for HIV prevention in the settings of STIs.

Previous studies suggest that neurocysticercosis (NCC), the most common cause of acute symptomatic seizures (ASS), epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders, typically presents with a solitary lesion and focal seizures in children from places where cysticercosis is endemic. We report a series of 3 patients, aged 7 to 11 years, with a history of epilepsy and or recurrent headache referred from Mocuba to the Quaternary Central Hospital in Quelimane, Zambeze Province, Mozambique, an area endemic for cysticercosis. Clinical history and examination, blood chemistry and hemogram screening, serological testing for Cysticercus antigens and antibodies detection, and a computerized tomography (CT) scan, were performed. NCC was confirmed in all 3 patients, based on criteria defined by Del Bruto. Two confirmed cases tested positive for antigen (Ag) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with CT lesions in different stages of parasite evolution. Headache/encephalopathy was present in all patients. This case series of children with epilepsy confirms for the first time the presence of NCC in children from Zambezia province, an east-central region of Mozambique. Further, NCC should be included in the differential diagnosis of children with ASS, epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Future studies should be targeted to the identification of biomarkers to support the diagnosis of NCC, given the limited availability of imaging tools and limited value of serological assays for the diagnosis and management of NCC.

Background: It is hypothesized that schistosomiasis and intestinal parasites increase susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and enhance AIDS progression by immunomodulation. This study aims to compare the prevalence and risk factors for schistosomiasis and intestinal parasites in HIV-1 infected and uninfected persons and to evaluate the association between HIV-1 induced immunosuppression and risk factors for parasite infection.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Boane Health Center in Boane village, Maputo Province from April to June 2017 in 280 patients aged over 5 years. From each of 140 HIV-1 infected or 140 HIV-1 uninfected persons, demographic and clinical data were collected as well as one stool and urine sample for parasitological analysis. All stool samples were processed using direct wet mount and Ritchie method for detection of common parasites, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques to identify Cryptosporidium spp., Cystoisospora belli and Cyclospora spp. oocysts from children stools. The urine was sedimented and analyzed for S. haematobium eggs detection.

Results: The overall prevalence of parasitism in the study population was 46.8% (131/280). Fifty six percent of the HIV-1 infected persons (78/140) were infected by at least one parasite compared to 38% (53/140 of the HIV-1 uninfected persons (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-3.3).Further, HIV-1 infected persons were more likely to be infected by S. mansoni (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.8-15.8) when compared to HIV-1 uninfected person and HIV-1 infected women were more likely to be infected by S. mansoni (OR 6.7 CI 95% 1.8-22.8%) when compared to HIV-1 uninfected women (p< 0.001). HIV-1 serostatus (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.5-31.2). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that HIV-1 infected status (OR=1.813575), the use of river or lake as water sources either for drinking (OR=7.289245) or domestic chores (OR=9.16205) were significant risk factor for parasitic infection. Partcipants with secondary and higher school (OR=0.379) were less likely to have a parasitic infection compared with primary school or illiterate participants.

Conclusions: It is possible that the a high prevalence of schistosomiais and intestinal parasites in this region plays an important role on the transmission and pathogenesis of HIV.

Background: In Mozambique, vegetables are the main source of nutrients and they are consumed raw or cooked. Their consumption, especially in their raw form, might be a source of contamination, which may take place during production and/or transportation as well as in the markets. In this study we aimed to assess the profile and frequency of parasites in lettuces and cabbages sold in some selected markets in Maputo city, the capital of Mozambique.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted between February and March 2018, in 10 selected markets from Maputo City. A total of 100 combined samples of lettuces and cabbages were analyzed using a spontaneous sedimentation method. Data such as gender and age of the vendors and about handling of vegetables at the point of sale were also collected.

Results: Out of the samples, 84 (84%) were contaminated with parasites (86% of lettuces and 82% of cabbages). The analyses performed revealed the presence of E. coli (66%), S. stercoralis (40%), E. histolytica (20%), A. duodenalis (6%), S. haematobium (4%), A. lumbricoides (2%), S. mansoni (2%) and T. trichiura (1%). Two markets, Janete and Fajardo showed contamination in all samples. A Chi square analysis revealed a significant association between the contaminated cabbages and the market where they were obtained. The majority of vendors (57%) do not wash their hands before handling vegetables. Most of the vendors had tables to place vegetables (72%) and those tables are cleaned before display (86%). None of the differences observed in each risk factor studied were statistically significant.

Conclusion: The present study highlights that contamination of raw vegetables with pathogenic parasites in markets might represent a vector for transmission of intestinal and water- borne parasites to consumers. Future studies should investigate the extent of vegetable contamination at each stage of the supply chain from the farm to consumers, as well as its relationship to human parasitic infection and its consequences. Good hygienic practices of farmers, vendors and consumers should be enforced to break the contamination chain. Whenever possible, hydroponic cultivation should be encouraged to avoid the influence of highly contaminated soils.

Introduction: Onchocerciasis, remains an unfamiliar condition for health professionals in Mozambique leading to its misdiagnosis as leprosy or scabies as noted in previous studies. Meta-analyses conducted in some African countries, have concluded that onchocerciasis is associated with epilepsy and nodding syndrome. Epilepsy affects at least 3% of the Mozambican population.

Aim: We aim to discuss the possible misdiagnosis of scabies and/or leprosy in cases of onchocerciasis as well as insights into a putative role for onchocerciasis in the etiology of epilepsy. Based on these issues, we also highlight some priorities for future onchocerciasis research.

Methods: We carried out a literature review of the epidemiology of onchocerciasis in Mozambique and other parts of the world where the disease exists, its clinical features, and information on the prevalence of epilepsy, scabies and leprosy in Mozambique.

Results and conclusions: A number of studies (1997 - 2007) revealed that onchocerciasis is present in at least five provinces of Mozambique, comprising 47% of the country's population, and at least three provinces of Mozambique where onchocerciasis has been reported are those where the incidence of leprosy is also high. This increases the possibility that onchocerciasis cases could be misdiagnosed as leprosy or scabies, as seen in previous studies by Noormahomed., et al. In addition, onchocerciasis may contribute to the development of epilepsy at an early age, as has been found in some other African countries such as Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.Mozambique is not included in many epidemiological maps of onchocerciasis prevalence, while Tanzania and Malawi are listed as endemic countries and have well established community drug treatment with ivermectin, probably because the disease was considered hypoendemic in previous studies. Research should be carried out in focal areas to determine the burden and clinical features of onchocercal disease in Mozambique, as well as, the socio and economic impact of disease in the affected patients and communities. With these data in hand, it will also be possible to assess the possible association of onchocerciasis with epilepsy in Mozambique. It will be equally important to train health professionals in the diagnosis and management of this neglected and poverty-related disease.

Introduction: Increased evidence suggests intestinal parasite infections, one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, increase the acquisition and progression of AIDS.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV and intestinal parasite co-infections, the relationship to the degree of immunosuppression and the effect of antiretroviral treatment (ART) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TS) on patients treated at 1° de Maio Health Centre in Maputo, Mozambique.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from December 2015 to August 2016. A total of 517 stool samples from 371 (71.8%) HIV infected and 146 (28.2%) HIV uninfected patients were examined for the presence of parasites using direct wet mount, Ritchie and modified Ziehl Neelsen techniques. A subsample of 201 stools from HIV infected patients was processed for coproantigens for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp.

Results: Overall, 148 (28.6%) of the individuals were infected with at least one parasite. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 98 (26.4%) and 50 (34.2%) in HIV infected and uninfected patients, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant. We identified 10 different parasites including (most frequently) Trichuris trichiura 67 (12.9%), Ascaris lumbricoides 27 (5.2%) and Entamoeba coli 40 (7.7%). Giardia intestinalis prevalence was significantly higher in HIV infected patients 12 (3.2%), p = 0.02. Parasitic intensity was higher in HIV infected patients than in HIV uninfected patients. Cryptosporidium spp. prevalence by coproantigen detection was 6% and was associated with degree of immune suppression. A CD4⁺ T-cell count of < 200 cells/μL was significantly associated with higher prevalence and intensity of parasitism, while ART and TS prophylaxis was associated with lower parasitic prevalence.

Conclusions: Our study revealed that the prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasites in HIV infected patients was related to the degree of immune suppression as assessed by CD4⁺ cell count, while ART and TS seemed to reduce the parasitic infection.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a family of oxygen molecules with an unpaired electron and play an important role in homeostasis and pathogenesis. The reactive molecules modify lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, and modulate a wide range of cellular functions. The importance of ROS in infection has been established through clinical and in vitro studies. Here we review the role of oxidative stress in HIV pathogenesis, the impact of ROS on immune responses in HIV patients, and ROS-mediated regulation of HIV infection. Future studies on the interplay between ROS and HIV infection may offer a new strategy for prevention and treatment.

Childhood asthma and wheezing are very common, especially in those born preterm. Genetic and environmental factors are associated with developing asthma and wheezing. Respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus infections have been implicated in playing a causal role in the development of childhood asthma and wheezing, perhaps by altering the development of the immune system. Several subtypes of asthma and wheezing have been described which involve different mechanisms of pathophysiology. Much of the recent work in the field of asthma research has focused on describing unique aspects of these disease subtypes, which could lead to new drug targets. Alterations in CD4+ T cells have been described with alterations in the T helper 1, 2, 17 and regulatory cell balance could provide valuable targets for the development of new treatment strategies for the various subtypes of disease. This review article focuses on factors involved in childhood asthma and wheeze and potential drug targets.