scholarly journals Frequency of Leishmania spp. infection among HIV-infected patients living in an urban area in Brazil: a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIRELLA ALVES CUNHA ◽  
BEATRIZ CELESTE ◽  
NORIVAL KESPER ◽  
MAHYUMI FUGIMORI ◽  
MARIANNA MARTINS LAGO ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: There is little information about the frequency of Leishmaniainfection in asymptomatic HIV infected individuals and about the performance of laboratory diagnostic methods in coinfected patients in Latin America. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of Leishmaniaspp. infection in HIV infected patients living in an urban area from Brazil. Methods: To detect Leishmaniainfection, were performed diagnostic tests to detection of antibodies anti-Leishmania(ELISA using Leptomonas seymouriantigens; ELISA using rk39 antigens; ELISA using rK28 antigens; indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT); direct agglutination test (DAT) and detection of LeishmaniaDNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the target genes kDNA and ITS-1. Results: Frequency, considering at least one positive test, was 15%. For ELISA using Leptomonasantigens and IFAT, there was an association between CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and test positivity, with a higher positivity of these tests in more immunosuppressed patients (T CD4+ cells count < 200/mm3). Conclusions: According to our data, there was a high prevalence of Leishmaniaspp. in this population living with HIV. Although there is the possibility of cross-reaction, some tests considered highly specific for the diagnosis of Leishmania infection were positive. There was also an association between the positivity of some tests studied and lower values of T CD4+ lymphocytes.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIRELLA ALVES CUNHA ◽  
BEATRIZ CELESTE ◽  
NORIVAL KESPER ◽  
MAHYUMI FUGIMORI ◽  
MARIANNA MARTINS LAGO ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: There is little information about the frequency of Leishmania infection in asymptomatic people living with HIV (PLWH) and about the performance of laboratory diagnostic methods in coinfected patients in Latin America. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of Leishmania spp. infection in HIV-infected patients living in an urban area in Brazil.Methods: To detect Leishmania infection, diagnostic tests were performed to detect anti-Leishmania antibodies (ELISA using Leptomonas seymouri antigens; ELISA using rK39 antigens; ELISA using rK28 antigens; indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT); direct agglutination test (DAT)) and Leishmania DNA (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the target genes kDNA and ITS-1).Results: The frequency of at least one positive test was 15%. For ELISA using Leptomonas antigens and IFAT, there was an association between CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and test positivity, with a higher positivity of these tests in more immunosuppressed patients (CD4+ T cell count < 200/mm3).Conclusions: According to our data, there was a high prevalence of Leishmania spp. infections in this population living with HIV. Although there is the possibility of cross-reaction, some tests that are considered highly specific for the diagnosis of Leishmania infection were positive. There was also an association between the positivity of some tests studied and lower values of CD4+ T lymphocytes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIRELLA ALVES CUNHA ◽  
BEATRIZ CELESTE ◽  
NORIVAL KESPER ◽  
MAHYUMI FUGIMORI ◽  
MARIANNA MARTINS LAGO ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: There is little information about the frequency of Leishmania infection in asymptomatic people living with HIV (PLWH) and about the performance of laboratory diagnostic methods in coinfected patients in Latin America. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of Leishmania spp. infection in HIV-infected patients living in an urban area in Brazil. Methods: To detect Leishmania infection, diagnostic tests were performed to detect anti-Leishmania antibodies (ELISA using Leptomonas seymouri antigens; ELISA using rK39 antigens; ELISA using rK28 antigens; indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT); direct agglutination test (DAT)) and Leishmania DNA (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the target genes kDNA and ITS-1). Results: The frequency of at least one positive test was 15%. For ELISA using Leptomonas antigens and IFAT, there was an association between CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and test positivity, with a higher positivity of these tests in more immunosuppressed patients (CD4+ T cell count < 200/mm3). Conclusions: According to our data, there was a high prevalence of Leishmania spp. infections in this population living with HIV. Although there is the possibility of cross-reaction, some tests that are considered highly specific for the diagnosis of Leishmania infection were positive. There was also an association between the positivity of some tests studied and lower values of CD4+ T lymphocytes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Cunha ◽  
B. J. Celeste ◽  
N. Kesper ◽  
M. Fugimori ◽  
M. M. Lago ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There is little information about the frequency of Leishmania infection in asymptomatic people living with HIV (PLWH) and about the performance of laboratory diagnostic methods in coinfected patients in Latin America. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of Leishmania spp. infection in HIV-infected patients living in an urban area in Brazil. Methods To detect Leishmania infection, diagnostic tests were performed to detect anti-Leishmania antibodies (ELISA using Leptomonas seymouri antigens; ELISA using rK39 antigens; ELISA using rK28 antigens; indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT); direct agglutination test (DAT)) and Leishmania DNA (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the target genes kDNA and ITS-1). Results The frequency of at least one positive test was 15%. For ELISA using Leptomonas antigens and IFAT, there was an association between CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and test positivity, with a higher positivity of these tests in more immunosuppressed patients (CD4+ T cell count < 200/mm3). Conclusions According to our data, there was a high prevalence of Leishmania spp. infections in this population living with HIV. Although there is the possibility of cross-reaction, some tests that are considered highly specific for the diagnosis of Leishmania infection were positive. There was also an association between the positivity of some tests studied and lower values of CD4+ T lymphocytes.


Author(s):  
Marwan Abu-Halaweh ◽  
Mahmoud N. Abo-Shehada ◽  
Raida Khalil

Abstract A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 379 horses to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora spp. in Jordan using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Five variables, namely locality (n=10), climatic zone (n=4), age group (n=3), gender, and breed were tested as risk factors for Neospora–immunoglobulin (Ig)G seropositivity at four cutoff titers (1:50, 1:200, 1:400, and 1:800) using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A total of 122 (32%; 95% CI: 28, 37) sera samples had anti-Neospora–IgG at a cutoff titer of 1:50. Increased Neospora–IgG seropositivity was found in horses in three localities (Madaba, Zarka, and Petra) and was associated with the following variables: cool temperate climate; age >14 years; and female gender. Seropositivity was found among horses from Madaba at all cutoff titers, Zarka at titers >1:200, and Petra at titers <1:200. Cool temperate climate was associated with titers <1:400. Horses aged >14 years were found to be associated with seropositivity at titers ≥1:200. Female gender was associated with high seropositivity at >1:800.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 3535-3542
Author(s):  
Henrique Momo Ziemniczak ◽  
◽  
Maerle Oliveira Maia ◽  
Maiara Oliveira Maia ◽  
Elvino Ferreira ◽  
...  

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. are important apicomplexan pathogens that can infect dogs and result in a neurological syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and Neospora spp. in stray dogs in the state of Rondônia, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to April 2016. A total of 458 dogs blood samples were collected at the Center for Control of Zoonosis (CCZ), and anti-T. gondii and anti-N. spp. antibody levels were detected and measured using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The seroprevalence of T. gondii and Neospora spp. in dogs it was 82.20% and 73.85%, respectively. The seroprevalence of coinfections was 47.59%. This is the first report of anti-T. gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies detected in stray dogs in Rolim de Moura, state of Rondônia, Western Brazilian Amazon. Male dogs showed a higher frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies than female dogs (88.0% vs. 75.3%; p < 0.001), presenting 2.41 times more chances of having the disease. High seroprevalence of infection (92.4%: T. gondii and 89.2%: Neospora spp.) was detected in the group ≥ 1-year-old dogs, in all collections, with OR 7.35 and OR 10.27 for the presence of anti-T. gondii and anti- Neospora spp., respectively. In conclusion, the serological results indicate an important circulation of T. gondii and Neospora spp. in wandering dogs hailing from Rolim de Moura, state of Rondônia, Western Brazilian Amazonia.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Ribeiro Dias Santos ◽  
Christiane Maria Barcellos Magalhães da Rocha ◽  
Tarcísio de Morais Gonçalves ◽  
Antônio Marcos Guimarães

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the rate of vertical transmission and to investigate horizontal transmission of Neospora caninum and occurrences of reproductive abnormalities in seropositive dairy cows on two farms in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The frequency of cows seropositive for N.caninum according to the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was 39.4% (93/236) for Farm A and 31.4% (32/102) for the Farm B (p > 0.05). The mean vertical transmission rates for N. caninum were 29% and 9% for the herds of Farms A and B, respectively. No negative effects (p > 0.05) from infection by N.caninum were observed regarding milk production and occurrences of reproductive abnormalities in herds A and B.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-105
Author(s):  
Zainab Khalid Khalil

Background: Blastocystis spp. distributes world widely and the genus Blastocystis include many subtypes that are isolated from human intestinal tract. It is considered the most common parasite detected in human being. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of Blastocystis spp. among leukemic children, to find out its association with the presence of symptoms (diarrhea and abdominal pain), and to assess the efficacy of different staining methods in detection of Blastocystis spp.  Type of the study: cross-sectional study. Method: 103 children were enrolled in this study, 53 leukemic patients and 50 healthy controls. The study was performed during the period between January and June 2014, in Oncology department of Ibn Al-Atheer teaching hospital in Mosul city. Three consecutive samples were taken from each child and a thorough history was taken from them. The samples then treated with 3 stains, iodine, iron hematoxylin, and trichrome.The data was analyzed using minitab version 17, Fischer’s exact test, Two-proportions test, and Correlation test. The results were considered statistically significant with P-value <0.05. Results: Blastocystis spp. was detected in 18.87% of leukemic children and in 10% of healthy group. All specimens were stained by iodine, iron hematoxylin, and trichrome stains. Infection rates among patients were (9.4%, 11.3%, and 18.87% respectively) while among healthy children they were (4%, 6%, and 10% respectively). However, these differences were statistically nonsignificant. A higher infection rate was detected in the preschool children (33.3%) than school age group (6.9%). Furthermore, there was a significant association between Blastocystisspp. infection and intestinal symptoms (abdominal pain and diarrhea). Conclusion: Our study reveals a higher rate of infection with Blastocystis spp. among leukemic children than normal controls and a significant association was seen between incidence ofBlastocystisspp. infection and symptomatic children.    Those results draw attention for the significance of Blastocystis spp. infection in immunosuppressed patients and lighten the way for further studies on its pathogenicity and diagnostic methods.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0009859
Author(s):  
Hannah M. Cranford ◽  
A. Springer Browne ◽  
Karen LeCount ◽  
Tammy Anderson ◽  
Camila Hamond ◽  
...  

During 2019–2020, the Virgin Islands Department of Health investigated potential animal reservoirs of Leptospira spp., the bacteria that cause leptospirosis. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated Leptospira spp. exposure and carriage in the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata, syn: Herpestes auropunctatus), an invasive animal species. This study was conducted across the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), which are St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. We used the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT), real-time polymerase chain reaction (lipl32 rt-PCR), and bacterial culture to evaluate serum and kidney specimens and compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of these laboratory methods. Mongooses (n = 274) were live-trapped at 31 field sites in ten regions across USVI and humanely euthanized for Leptospira spp. testing. Bacterial isolates were sequenced and evaluated for species and phylogenetic analysis using the ppk gene. Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in 34% (87/256) of mongooses. Reactions were observed with the following serogroups: Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes, Mini, Cynopteri, Australis, Hebdomadis, Autumnalis, Mankarso, Pomona, and Ballum. Of the kidney specimens examined, 5.8% (16/270) were FAT-positive, 10% (27/274) were culture-positive, and 12.4% (34/274) were positive by rt-PCR. Of the Leptospira spp. isolated from mongooses, 25 were L. borgpetersenii, one was L. interrogans, and one was L. kirschneri. Positive predictive values of FAT and rt-PCR testing for predicting successful isolation of Leptospira by culture were 88% and 65%, respectively. The isolation and identification of Leptospira spp. in mongooses highlights the potential role of mongooses as a wildlife reservoir of leptospirosis; mongooses could be a source of Leptospira spp. infections for other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 850
Author(s):  
José Esteban Muñoz-Medina ◽  
Concepción Grajales-Muñiz ◽  
Angel Gustavo Salas-Lais ◽  
Larissa Fernandes-Matano ◽  
Constantino López-Macías ◽  
...  

Until recently, the incidence of COVID-19 was primarily estimated using molecular diagnostic methods. However, the number of cases is vastly underreported using these methods. Seroprevalence studies estimate cumulative infection incidences and allow monitoring of transmission dynamics, and the presence of neutralizing antibodies in the population. In February 2020, the Mexican Social Security Institute began conducting anonymous unrelated sampling of residual sera from specimens across the country, excluding patients with fever within the previous two weeks and/or patients with an acute respiratory infection. Sampling was carried out weekly and began 17 days before Mexico’s first officially confirmed case. The 24,273 sera obtained were analyzed by chemiluminescent-linked immunosorbent assay (CLIA) IgG S1/S2 and, later, positive cases using this technique were also analyzed to determine the rate of neutralization using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We identified 40 CLIA IgG positive cases before the first official report of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico. The national seroprevalence was 3.5% in February and 33.5% in December. Neutralizing activity among IgG positives patients during overall study period was 86.1%. The extent of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico is 21 times higher than that reported by molecular techniques. Although the general population is still far from achieving herd immunity, epidemiological indicators should be re-estimated based on serological studies of this type.


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marissa L Becker ◽  
Laura H Thompson ◽  
Carla Pindera ◽  
Natalie Bridger ◽  
Carmen Lopez ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Approximately 26% of Canadians living with HIV are unaware of their status. Point-of-care (POC) HIV tests have been introduced to simplify and expand HIV testing.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of POC testing in an emergency department (ED) setting in Winnipeg, Manitoba.METHODS: A cross-sectional study of unselected adults presenting to the ED at the Health Sciences Centre Hospital (Winnipeg, Manitoba) was performed. Study procedures included pre- and post-test counselling, administration of the INSTI HIV-1/HIV-2 Antibody Test (bioLytical Laboratories, Canada) and a brief questionnaire. Venous blood samples were collected from participants for confirmatory testing on all reactive and indeterminate specimens.RESULTS: In total, 501 adults participated in the study. The majority of participants were younger than 40 years of age, approximately one-half (48.5%) were women and 53% self-identified as Aboriginal. Nearly one-half (49.1%) of the participants had undergone previous HIV testing, although 63% of these tests were performed more than a year earlier. A total of seven individuals tested reactive with the POC test, all of whom were confirmed positive using serological testing (1.4%) and were linked to an HIV specialist within 24 h. Nearly all of the participants (96%) reported satisfaction with the test and believed it belonged in the ED (93%).CONCLUSIONS: Of the participants tested, 1.4% tested reactive for HIV, which is significantly higher than the reported prevalence in Manitoba and in other similar studies conducted in North America. Furthermore, all individuals were linked to timely care. The present study demonstrated that this particular busy tertiary care ED is an important and feasible location for HIV POC testing.


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