Seroprevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus among men who have sex with men in Japan.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, causes malignancies frequently in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In the United States and Europe, KSHV infection is common among men who have sex with men. However, the seroprevalence of KSHV among men who have sex with men in Japan is unknown. In the present study, the seroprevalence of KSHV was investigated among 230 men who have sex with men and 400 age- and area of residence-matched men (controls) using a mixed-antigen (KSHV-encoded K8.1, open reading frame 59, 65, and 73 proteins) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an immunofluorescence assay. Among the Japanese men who have sex with men, serological assays revealed that 27 (11.7%) were seropositive for KSHV; 20 (5%) of the men in the control group were also KSHV seropositive. The seroprevalence of KSHV among men who have sex with men was significantly higher than in the control group (odds ratio = 2.52, 95% confidence intervals = 1.38-4.62, P = 0.0019, Chi-square test). Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, Treponema pallidum, or hepatitis B and C virus did not correlate with KSHV infection. Furthermore, the association of KSHV seropositivity with specific sexual activities was not statistically significant. In conclusion, a higher KSHV seroprevalence was found among Japanese men who have sex with men than among the controls, suggesting that the circulation of KSHV infection is more efficient among men who have sex with men in Japan than among men who do not engage in such sexual activities.

Multiplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification detection by sequence-based barcodes coupled with nicking endonuclease-mediated pyrosequencing.

The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a well-developed method for replicating a targeted DNA sequence with a high specificity, but multiplex LAMP detection is difficult because LAMP amplicons are very complicated in structure. To allow simultaneous detection of multiple LAMP products, a series of target-specific barcodes were designed and tagged in LAMP amplicons by FIP primers. The targeted barcodes were decoded by pyrosequencing on nicked LAMP amplicons. To enable the nicking reaction to occur just near the barcode regions, the recognition sequence of the nicking endonuclease (NEase) was also introduced into the FIP primer. After the nicking reaction, pyrosequencing started at the nicked 3' end when the added deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) was complementary to the non-nicked strand. To efficiently encode multiple targets, the barcodes were designed with a reporter base and two stuffer bases, so that the decoding of a target-specific barcode only required a single peak in a pyrogram. We have successfully detected the four kinds of pathogens including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Treponema pallidum (TP), which are easily infected in blood, by a 4-plex LAMP in a single tube, indicating that barcoded LAMP coupled with NEase-mediated pyrosequencing is a simple, rapid, and reliable way in multiple target identification.

Anti-HBc screening in Egyptian blood donors reduces the risk of hepatitis B virus transmission.

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) in blood donors is considered as a potential risk for transmission of HBV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBC) positivity in Egyptian blood donations as well as to estimate the frequency of HBV-DNA in anti-HBc-positive donations. The study included 760 Egyptian healthy blood donors, representing 26 different Egyptian governorates screened according to routine practice for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Abs), HIV-1/2 Abs and Treponema Abs. The accepted blood units for donation were tested for the presence of total anti-HBc Abs by two tests. Positive units for anti-HBc were further tested for HBV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction. According to routine screening, a total of 48/760 units (6.3%) were rejected [38 (5%) HCV-Ab-positive units, 9 (1.18%) HbsAg-positive units and 1 (0.13%) Treponema-Ab-positive unit]. Among the accepted blood units for donation, prevalence of anti-HBc was 78/712 units (10.96%). HBV-DNA was detected in 9/78 (11.54%) of the anti-HBc-positive units, and thus, occult HBV infection was detected in 9/712 (1.26%) of the accepted blood donations. Implementing anti-HBc test to the routine assay for the forthcoming two decades would certainly eliminate possible HBV-infected units. Rejection of these units will be beneficial to decrease the risk of HBV transmission with its potential consequences particularly in immunocompromised recipients.

The correlation between serum immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G levels and the presence of Treponema denticola in human periapical lesions.

The aim of this study was to compare the serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and the presence of Treponema denticola in the root canals in a group of teeth with/without periapical lesion. A total of 66 children aged 8 to 13 years old were involved in this study. Five milliliters of blood samples were taken to detect the serum IgA and IgG levels. Sixty-six endodontic samplings were also obtained to determine the presence of T. denticola by polymerase chain reaction. The presence of T. denticola between the groups with/without periapical lesion was statistically significant (p = 0.026). A significant negative correlation was found between serum IgG and IgA levels and the presence of T. denticola (p = 0.023 and 0.038, respectively). This study may support the hypothesis that the presence of T. denticola in the root canals is mainly related to the periapical lesions, and the higher levels of serum IgG and IgA levels may protect against T. denticola.

Clinical features and rapid plasma reagin antibody titers in spontaneous and experimental rabbit syphilis.

Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titers were periodically examined during and after treatment in three rabbits clinically diagnosed with rabbit syphilis. RPR titers remained positive after clinical recovery and then gradually declined. Of the two rabbits inoculated experimentally, one showed clinical signs of the disease, while the other did not. RPR titers were also periodically evaluated before and after inoculation in these two rabbits. The trends in RPR titers reflected the course of infection, both in the spontaneous and in the experimental cases. An inapparent case and cases without clinical signs after clinical recovery showed low titers for long period of time. Useful information for interpretation of RPR titers measured clinically was obtained by this survey.

Swine dysentery: the influence of dietary vitamin E and selenium on the clinical and pathological effects of Treponema hyodysenteriae infection in pigs.

Twenty-four conventionally reared pigs were divided into four equal groups and fed a basic ration deficient in vitamin E and selenium. One group was given a supplement of vitamin E and selenium. One group was given a supplement of vitamin E, another received selenium and a third received both nutrients. No supplement was given to the control group. After the pigs had been fed the different diets for 59 days they were inoculated with a pure culture of Treponema hyodysenteriae They were subsequently observed for 22 days. The inoculation resulted in outbreaks of swine dysentery in all groups. The results indicated that the administration of vitamin E supplement alone to the pigs reduced the clinical effects of T hyodysenteriae only to a minor degree. On the other hand, supplementation with selenium, either alone or with vitamin E, had a more positive effect which was most clearly illustrated by a greater weight gain during the postinoculation period.

[Detected of associated contagious parameters of blood recipients before transfusion and their clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance in prevention of nosocomial infection of the testing of the associated contagious parameters of blood recipients before transfusion. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was adopted, 44 968 pre-transfusion patients were tested the serum hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), antibody against T. pallidum (anti-TP) and antibody against human immunodeficiency virus(anti-HIV). RESULTS: The total positive rate was 22.41%. Positive rate of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-TP were 20. 67% (9294/44 968) , 0.33% (148/ 44 968) and 1.65% (9741/44968), respectively; anti-HIV was positive in 39 patients, 23 cases coinfection of the other three indicators at least one positive in 39 cases of anti-HIV-positive blood recipients, of which was mostly observed T. pallidum; co-infection of HBV, HCV and/or TP were 117 cases, and were mostly observed between HBV and HCV, HCV and TP; for HBV infection the department of digestive medicine was prevalent(Chi2>or=83.0, P <0.01). CONCLUSION: Part of blood recipients before admission had been infected with a contagious disease. The testing of the associated contagious parameters of blood recipients before transfusion is not only useful for both of the hospital and the patients, but also more important to ensure safe blood transfusion, decrease medial dissatisfaction and to prevent nosocomial infection.

Analysis of the IgG immune response to Treponema phagedenis-like spirochetes in individual dairy cattle with papillomatous digital dermatitis.

Papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD) is a major infectious disease of the foot skin in dairy cattle. Treponema phagedenis-like spirochetes have been consistently detected in PDD lesions, and antibodies against these organisms have been demonstrated in affected cattle. However, little is known about the dominant antigens recognized by the immune system of affected cattle. Here, we investigated the IgG immune response to T. phagedenis-like isolates by Western blotting with different sera using whole-cell lysates and extracted glycolipid from 18 and 8 isolates, respectively, including those from different cattle on the same or different farms, isolates from different lesions affecting a single cow, and different isolates from the same lesion affecting a single cow. The reactivity of sera in Western blot assays revealed different banding patterns or showed no bands, suggesting that considerable antigenic variations, including glycolipid, may exist among the isolates, even in those from single individuals. With use of a total of 151 serum samples collected from three groups of cattle, i.e., PDD-positive cows on PDD-positive farms (group A), PDD-negative cows on PDD-positive farms (group B), and cows on PDD-free farms (group C), the levels of IgG antibodies against four T. phagedenis-like isolates were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The optical density in groups A and B was significantly higher than that in group C, even though the value varied among the antigens used. Therefore, combinations of multiple Treponema species should be used for serological analysis and the development of a suitable vaccine because of antigenic variations.

Treponematosis in the eastern highlands of New Guinea.

Serological tests for treponemal disease were undertaken among the inhabitants of 10 census units in the Eastern Highlands of New Guinea. Many sera gave reactive results to some or all of the tests performed. To exclude biological false positive reactions the Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) test was carried out on each serum, the results being taken to indicate the presence or absence of treponemal disease in the individual. Clinically, leprosy and malaria were rare and no cases of active yaws were seen. Some middle-aged people showed clinical evidence of old yaws infections. The prevalence of treponemal disease in the census units varied from 3.9% to 79.2%, males having a higher prevalence than females. The children under 15 years showed no serological evidence of treponemal disease in all but 3 units, in which the prevalence ranged from 14.3% to 40%. It is concluded that the treponemal disease involved was yaws. Special interest lies in the non-infected children and adults who have no relative cross-immunity from yaws in a country which is rapidly developing.

Bejel in Malatya, Turkey.

Bejel is a form of endemic syphilis which is transmitted by non-venereal route. According to our knowledge, no cases of bejel have been reported from Turkey for more than 30 years. In this report, three children and their father who suffer from bejel are presented. The history, physical findings, laboratory investigations, treatment and results of the cases are reviewed, and the related literature is discussed.

Diagnóstico antenatal de sífilis congénita por PCR en líquido amniótico y sus posibles aplicaciones / Prenatal diagnosis of congenital syphilis by PCR in amniotic liquid and its possible applications

Se presenta un caso clínico de sífilis congénita diagnosticada antenatalmente mediante el uso de la reacción de la polimerasa en cadena (PCR) en líquido amniótico. La PCR permitiría identificar la espiroqueta en diferentes medios, como en sangre, líquido amniótico y líquido céfalo-raquídeo. Deberán desarrollarse nuevos protocolos para poder probar la efectividad de los tratamientos en base a esta técnica diagnóstica.

Treponemal serological tests in Jamaican school children, 1976

Sera from 899 children aged 6-14 years attending schools in rural St. Andrew and St. Mary in Jamaica were examined by the VDRL test and, if reactive or weakly reactive, by the FTA-ABS test. Fourteen sera were weakly reactive and, of these, 5 were positive in the FTA-ABS test. The cause of these reactive tests was not determined. The proportion of children in St. Mary who were weakly reactive in the VDRL test was 0.1 percent compared to 27.6 percent weakly reactive and reactive children in 1963, 13 years earlier, which suggests that yaws transmission has become rare in St. Mary and, by inference, probably elsewhere in Jamaica. The mistaken diagnosis of syphilis by sero-reactivity which was, in fact, due to yaws contracted in childhood used to be a major problem. With the disappearance of childhood yaws, the value of reactive treponemal tests as evidence of syphilitic infection should be of increasing significance (AU)