Colitis due to Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Simplex Type 2 as a Complication of a First Presentation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The first presentation of ulcerative colitis may be an acute flare in about 15% of patients, requiring hospital admission. In acute severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis, cytomegalovirus (CMV) should be sought because it is a frequent cause of refractory disease. Herpes simplex colitis constitutes a rarer event in ulcerative colitis patients and it is usually associated with immunosuppression. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> We report a case of a first presentation of ulcerative colitis complicated by CMV and herpes simplex type 2 coinfection. After a long period of systemic corticosteroids, the diagnosis of both CMV and herpes colitis was made. Despite antiviral treatment, colectomy was required due to a contained perforation. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> This report highlights the importance of a high degree of suspicion for opportunistic infections in steroid/immunomodulator refractory ulcerative colitis, even in the first flare.

Genital Herpes: Synergy between Serology and Polymerase Chain Reaction in Laboratory Diagnosis among Pregnant Women Attending the Antenatal Clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa Nigeria

Introduction: Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) is the main curse of Genital Herpes (GH) infection worldwide with developing countries having larger proportions. Little is known about its diagnosis using the synergy techniques of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for its accurate diagnosis. This study focuses on carrying out the synergy (concurrent) between serology and PCR techniques for diagnosing GH caused by HSV-2. Methods: A total of 388 pregnant women were sampled using a well-structured questionnaire, a self-collected vaginal swab for PCR shedding detection and 10 ml of blood collected for serological assay. Data were analyzed using statical packages for Social sciences. P value were kept at <0.05. Results: A total 85 (21.9%) of the 388 sampled women were positive for Herpes simplex type 2 by PCR shedding techniques. Majority of the samples 345 (88.9%) were positive to serology assay. 57 (16.5%) of all 345 seropositive respondent are also shedders of the virus by PCR assays, p <0.05. Conversely, 28 (65.1%) of all 43 seronegative patients were shedders of HSV-2. Conclusion: The synergistic technique of Serology and PCR should be considered incorporated as detection techniques for accurate diagnosis as this will assist in prompt management of genital herpes infection.

Past and Present Behçet’s Disease Animal Models

Beh&#231;et’s disease (BD) is presumably an autoinflammatory disease of unknown etiology for which several animal models have been described over the years. Agents and methods used for the development of these models have ranged from the herpes simplex type one virus (hsv-1) pathogen to the use of transgenic mice. Other models have also been used to investigate a possible autoimmune component. Each model possesses its own unique set of benefits and shortcomings, with no one model fully being able to recapitulate the disease phenotype. Here, we review the proposed models and provide commentary on their effectiveness and usefulness in studying the disease.