Distinct T-cell responses when BCG vaccination is delayed from birth to 6 weeks of age in Ugandan infants.

BACKGROUND: In Uganda, the tuberculosis vaccine BCG is administered on the first day of life. Infants delivered at home receive BCG vaccine at their first healthcare facility visit at 6 weeks of age. Our aim was to determine the effect of this delay in BCG vaccination on the induced immune response. METHODS: We assessed CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses with a 12-hour whole-blood intracellular cytokine/cytotoxic marker assay, and with a 6-day proliferation assay. RESULTS: We enrolled 92 infants: 50 had received BCG vaccine at birth and 42 at 6 weeks of age. Birth vaccination was associated with (1) greater induction of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells expressing either interferon γ (IFN-γ) alone or IFN-γ together with perforin and (2) induction of proliferating cells that had greater capacity to produce IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 2 together, compared with delayed vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct patterns of T-cell induction occurred when BCG vaccine was given at birth and at 6 weeks of age. We propose that this diversity might impact protection against tuberculosis. Our results differ from those of studies of delayed BCG vaccination in South Africa and the Gambia, suggesting that geographical and population heterogeneity may affect the BCG vaccine-induced T-cell response.

Incidence of tuberculous infection in a TB-endemic city.

Current metrics for TB transmission include TB notifications, disease mortality, and prevalence surveys. These metrics are helpful to national TB programs to assess the burden of disease, but they do not directly measure incident infection in the community.To estimate incidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in Kampala, Uganda, we performed a prospective cohort study between 2014 and 2017 which enrolled of 1,275 adult residents without signs of tuberculous infection (tuberculin skin test [TST] <5 mm and no signs of TB disease) and followed them for conversion of TST at 1 year.During follow-up, 194 participants converted the TST and 158 converted by one year. The incidence density of TST conversion was 13.2 conversions/100 person-year (95% CI 11.6-15.1), which corresponds to an annual cumulative incidence of tuberculous infection of 12.4% (95% CI 10.7-14.3). Cumulative incidence was greater among older participants and among men. Among participants who reported prior exposure to TB cases, the cumulative risk was highest among those reporting exposure during follow-up.The high annual incidence of infection suggests that residents of Kampala have adequate contact for infection with undetected, infectious cases of TB as they go about their daily lives..

Preference for daily (1HP) vs. weekly (3HP) isoniazid-rifapentine among people living with HIV in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Both 1 month of daily (1HP) and 3 months of weekly (3HP) isoniazid-rifapentine are recommended as short-course regimens for TB prevention among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We aimed to assess acceptability and preferences for 1HP vs. 3HP among PLHIV. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey among PLHIV at an HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda, participants were randomly assigned to a hypothetical scenario of receiving 1HP or 3HP. Participants rated their level of perceived intention and confidence to complete treatment using a 0-10 Likert scale, and chose between 1HP and 3HP. RESULTS: Among 429 respondents (median age: 43 years, 71% female, median time on ART: 10 years), intention and confidence were rated high for both regimens. Intention to complete treatment was rated at least 7/10 by 92% (189/206 randomized to 1HP) and 93% (207/223 randomized to 3HP). Respectively 86% (178/206) and 93% (208/223) expressed high confidence to complete treatment. Overall, 81% (348/429) preferred 3HP over 1HP. CONCLUSIONS: Both 1HP and 3HP were highly acceptable regimens, with 3HP preferred by most PLHIV. Weekly, rather than daily, dosing appears preferable to shorter duration of treatment, which should inform scale-up and further development of short-course regimens for TB prevention.

CONTEXTE: L'association isoniazide-rifapentine est recommandée comme traitement de courte durée pour la prévention de la TB chez les personnes vivant avec le VIH (PVVIH), à raison d'un mois de traitement quotidien (1HP) et de 3 mois de traitement hebdomadaire (3HP). Nous avons cherché à évaluer l'acceptabilité et les préférences des PVVIH pour le traitement 1HP par rapport au traitement 3HP. MÉTHODES: Dans le cadre d'une enquête transversale menée auprès de PVVIH dans une clinique VIH de Kampala, en Ouganda, les participants ont été assignés de manière aléatoire à un scénario hypothétique de réception de 1HP ou de 3HP. Les participants ont évalué leur niveau d'intention perçue et de confiance pour terminer le traitement en utilisant une échelle de Likert de 0 à 10 et ont choisi entre 1HP et 3HP. RÉSULTATS: Parmi les 429 répondants (âge médian : 43 ans, 71% de femmes, durée médiane de la thérapie antirétrovirale : 10 ans), l'intention et la confiance ont été jugées élevées pour les deux schémas. L'intention de terminer le traitement a été évaluée à au moins 7/10 par 92% (189/206 randomisés pour 1HP) et 93% (207/223 randomisés pour 3HP). Respectivement 86% (178/206) et 93% (208/223) ont exprimé une grande confiance dans le fait de terminer le traitement. Dans l'ensemble, 81% (348/429) ont préféré la 3HP à la 1HP. CONCLUSION: Les schémas 1HP et 3HP étaient tous deux très acceptables, le schéma 3HP étant préféré par la plupart des PVVIH. L'administration hebdomadaire, plutôt que quotidienne, semble préférable à une durée de traitement plus courte, ce qui devrait inspirer l'extension et le développement de schémas thérapeutiques de courte durée pour la prévention de la TB.

Lung function and health-related quality of life among adult patients following pulmonary TB treatment.

Pulmonary TB (PTB) increases the risk of chronic lung complications, which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We determined the prevalence and predictors of post-TB lung disease and persistent symptoms in a resource-limited setting.Adults who completed PTB treatment underwent spirometry and completed the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), a questionnaire that assesses quality of life on symptom, activity, and impact. We performed multivariate analyses to calculate the X-adjusted prevalence ratio (PRadj) of abnormal spirometry and identify associated risk factors.Among the 162 participants, 89 (54.9%) were male. The median age was 32 years, and 65 (40.1%) had HIV. Overall, 65 participants (40.1%) had abnormal lung function, with spirometric restriction seen in 29.0%, obstruction in 4.9%, and a mixed pattern in 6.2%. Smoking (PRadj 1.88, 95% CI 1.11-3.16; P = 0.02) and female sex (PRadj 1.81, 95% Cl 1.15-2.84; P = 0.01) were independent risk factors for abnormal lung function. The median SGRQ scores were higher in participants with cavitation (P < 0.001) or bilateral consolidation on initial chest X-ray (P = 0.01).Lung function abnormalities, particularly spirometric restriction, are common in patients completing PTB treatment. Female sex and smoking status were associated with lung function abnormalities; therefore, additional studies to understand the underlying mechanistic pathways are warranted..

Understanding patient-level costs of weekly isoniazid-rifapentine (3HP) among people living with HIV in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Twelve weeks of weekly isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) prevents TB disease among people with HIV (PWH), but the costs to people of taking TB preventive treatment is not well described.METHODS: We surveyed PWH who initiated 3HP at a large urban HIV/AIDS clinic in Kampala, Uganda, as part of a larger trial. We estimated the cost of one 3HP visit from the patient perspective, including both out-of-pocket costs and estimated lost wages. Costs were reported in 2021 Ugandan shillings (UGX) and US dollars (USD; USD1 = UGX3,587)RESULTS: The survey included 1,655 PWH. The median participant cost of one clinic visit was UGX19,200 (USD5.36), or 38.5% of the median weekly income. Per visit, the cost of transportation was the largest component (median: UGX10,000/USD2.79), followed by lost income (median: UGX4,200/USD1.16) and food (median: UGX2,000/USD0.56). Men reported greater income loss than women (median: UGX6,400/USD1.79 vs. UGX3,300/USD0.93), and participants who lived further than a 30-minute drive to the clinic had higher transportation costs than others (median: UGX14,000/USD3.90 vs. UGX8,000/USD2.23).CONCLUSION: Patient-level costs to receive 3HP accounted for over one-third of weekly income. Patient-centered approaches to averting or defraying these costs are needed.

Performance of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube assay in tuberculin skin test converters: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate diagnostic agreement of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test in adult tuberculin skin test (TST) converters in a high tuberculosis (TB) burden setting. SETTING AND DESIGN: We performed a case-cohort study from 2014 to 2016 in Uganda among residents who were not infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Participants were followed up for 1 year, when they were retested to determine TST conversion. All TST converters and a random sample of participants from baseline were offered QFT-GIT testing. RESULTS: Of 368 enrolled participants, 61 (17%) converted their TST by 1 year. Among 61 converters, 42 were tested using QFT-GIT, 64% of whom were QFT-GIT-positive. Of 307 participants with a persistent negative TST, 48 were tested using QFT-GIT, 83% of whom were QFT-negative. Overall concordance of TST and QFT-GIT was moderate (κ = 0.48, 95%CI 0.30-0.66). Converters with a conversion of 15 mm had a higher proportion of concordant QFT-GIT results (79%) than converters with increments of 10-14.9 mm (52%). CONCLUSION: Concordance between TST and QFT-GIT was moderate among TST converters in this urban African population. These findings call for improved tests that more accurately measure conversion to tuberculous infection.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Risk to Human Infection due to Mycobacterium bovis among Cattle Farming Communities in Western Uganda.

A cross-sectional study involving multistage cluster sampling was undertaken in Kashari county, Mbarara district, western Uganda, in which quantitative and qualitative approaches were utilized to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding risk of human infection with zoonotic tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis among cattle farmers. Of 496 respondents, 50% were farm owners and 50% herdsmen. Males were 70.9% of all the study participants. Among these, 37.5% had good knowledge, 41.4% had positive attitudes and 75.2% good practices regarding zoonotic tuberculosis. In the multivariable model, good knowledge was associated with having ever received health education, spending more than 5 years keeping cattle, having heard of cattle condemned at the abattoir due to tuberculosis and marital status. Positive attitudes were associated with having ever received health education, having heard of cattle condemned at the abattoir due to tuberculosis and being a farm owner versus being a herdsman. Good practices were associated with health education and good knowledge of the disease. Overall, knowledge and attitudes towards zoonotic tuberculosis due to M. bovis in humans was found to be low. While the majority of the respondents reported good practices, there were some still consuming raw milk and its products, which may predispose them to infection and indicates the need for greater outreach for zoonotic tuberculosis education.

HIV incidence and sexually transmitted disease prevalence associated with condom use: a population study in Rakai, Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence of condom effectiveness for HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention is based primarily on high-risk populations. We examined condom effectiveness in a general population with high HIV prevalence in rural Africa. METHODS: Data were from a randomized community trial in Rakai, Uganda. Condom usage information was obtained prospectively from 17,264 sexually active individuals aged 15-59 years over a period of 30 months. HIV incidence and STD prevalence was determined for consistent and irregular condom users, compared to non-users. Adjusted rate ratios (RR) of HIV acquisition were estimated by Poisson multivariate regression, and odds ratios of STDs estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS: Only 4.4% reported consistent condom use and 16.5% reported inconsistent use during the prior year. Condom use was higher among males, and younger, unmarried and better educated individuals, and those reporting multiple sex partners or extramarital relationships. Consistent condom use significantly reduced HIV incidence [RR, 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.15-0.88], syphilis [odds ratio (OR), 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53-0.94] and gonorrhea/Chlamydia (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-0.97) after adjustment for socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics. Irregular condom use was not protective against HIV or STD and was associated with increased gonorrhea/Chlamydia risk (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.06-1.99). The population attributable fraction of consistent use for prevention of HIV was -4.5% (95% CI, -8.3 to 0.0), due to the low prevalence of consistent use in the population. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent condom use provides protection from HIV and STDs, whereas inconsistent use is not protective. Programs must emphasize consistent condom use for HIV and STD prevention.

Age of male circumcision and risk of prevalent HIV infection in rural Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether circumcision performed on postpubertal men affords the same level of protection from HIV-1 acquisition as circumcisions earlier in childhood. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a population-based cohort. SETTING: Rakai district, rural Uganda. METHODS: A total of 6821 men aged 15-59 years were surveyed and venous blood samples were tested for HIV-1 and syphilis. Age at circumcision was dichotomized into men who were circumcised before or at age 12 years (prepubertal) and men circumcised after age 12 years (postpubertal). Postpubertal circumcised men were also subdivided into those reporting circumcision at ages 13-20 years and > or = 21 years. RESULTS: HIV-1 prevalence was 14.1% in uncircumcised men, compared with 16.2% for men circumcised at age > or = 21 years, 10.0% for men circumcised at age 13-20 years, and 6.9% in men circumcised at age < or = 12 years. On bivariate analysis, lower prevalence of HIV-1 associated with prepubertal circumcision was observed in all age, education, ethnic and religious groups. Multivariate adjusted odds ratio of prevalent HIV-1 infection associated with prepubertal circumcision was 0.39 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.29-0.53]. In the postpubertal group, the adjusted odds ratio for men circumcised at ages 13-20 years was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.28-0.77), and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.43-1.43) for men circumcised after age 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: Prepubertal circumcision is associated with reduced HIV risk, whereas circumcision after age 20 years is not significantly protective against HIV-1 infection. Age at circumcision and reasons for circumcision need to be considered in future studies of circumcision and HIV risk.

Male circumcision and HIV acquisition and transmission: cohort studies in Rakai, Uganda. Rakai Project Team.

BACKGROUND: Male circumcision is associated with reduced HIV acquisition. METHODS: HIV acquisition was determined in a cohort of 5507 HIV-negative Ugandan men, and in 187 HIV-negative men in discordant relationships. Transmission was determined in 223 HIV-positive men with HIV-negative partners. HIV incidence per 100 person years (py) and adjusted rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Poisson regression. HIV-1 serum viral load was determined for the seropositive partners in HIV-discordant couples. RESULTS: The prevalence of circumcision was 16.5% for all men; 99.1% in Muslims and 3.7% in non-Muslims. Circumcision was significantly associated with reduced HIV acquisition in the cohort as a whole (RR 0.53, CI 0.33-0.87), but not among non-Muslim men. Prepubertal circumcision significantly reduced HIV acquisition (RR 0.49, CI 0.26-0.82), but postpubertal circumcision did not. In discordant couples with HIV-negative men, no serconversions occurred in 50 circumcised men, whereas HIV acquisition was 16.7 per 100 py in uncircumcised men (P = 0.004). In couples with HIV-positive men, HIV transmission was significantly reduced in circumcised men with HIV viral loads less than 50000 copies/ml (P = 0.02). INTERPRETATION: Prepubertal circumcision may reduce male HIV acquisition in a general population, but the protective effects are confounded by cultural and behavioral factors in Muslims. In discordant couples, circumcision reduces HIV acquisition and transmission. The assessment of circumcision for HIV prevention is complex and requires randomized trials.

Mortality associated with HIV infection in rural Rakai District, Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: To assess mortality impact of HIV in rural Uganda. METHODS: An open cohort of 19983 adults aged 15-59 years, in Rakai district was followed at 10 month intervals for four surveys. Sociodemographic characteristics and symptomatology/disease conditions were assessed by interview. Deaths among residents and out-migrants were identified household census. Mortality rates were computed per 1000 person years (py) and the rate ratio (RR) of death in HIV-positive/HIV-negative subjects, and the population attributable fraction (PAF) of death were estimated according to sociodemographic characteristics. Mortality associated with potential AIDS defining symptoms and signs was assessed. RESULTS: HIV prevalence was 16.1%. Mortality was 132.6 per 1000 py in HIV-infected versus 6.7 per 1000 py in uninfected subjects, and 73.5% of adult deaths were attributable to HIV infection. Mortality increased with age, but the highest attributable risk of HIV associated deaths were observed in persons aged 20-39 years (PAF > 80%) and in women. HIV associated mortality was highest in the better educated (PAF > or = 75%) and among government employees (PAF > or = 82%). Of the HIV-positive subjects 40.5% reported no illness < 10 months preceding death, symptoms were poor predictors of death (sensitivity 1.6-38.8%), and only 9.1% met the World Health Organization clinical definition of AIDS. Infant mortality rates in babies of HIV-infected and uninfected mothers were 209.4 and 97.7 per 1000, respectively. CONCLUSION: HIV is taking substantial toll in this population, particularly among the younger better educated adults, and infants. Symptomatology or the World Health Organization definition of AIDS are poor predictors of death.

A randomized, community trial of intensive sexually transmitted disease control for AIDS prevention, Rakai, Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the design and first-round survey results of a trial of intensive sexually transmitted disease (STD) control to reduce HIV-1 incidence. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, community-based trial in Rakai District, Uganda. METHODS: In this ongoing study, 56 communities were grouped into 10 clusters designed to encompass social/sexual networks; clusters within blocks were randomly assigned to the intervention or control arm. Every 10 months, all consenting resident adults aged 15-59 years are visited in the home for interview and sample collection (serological sample, urine, and, in the case of women, self-administered vaginal swabs). Sera are tested for HIV-1, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas and bacterial vaginosis. Following interview, all consenting adults are offered directly observed, single oral dose treatment (STD treatment in the intervention arm, anthelminthic and iron-folate in the control arm). Treatment is administered irrespective of symptoms or laboratory testing (mass treatment strategy). Both arms receive identical health education, condom and serological counseling services. RESULTS: In the first home visit round, the study enrolled 5834 intervention and 5784 control arm subjects. Compliance with interview, sample collection and treatment was high in both arms (over 90%). Study arm populations were comparable with respect to sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, and baseline HIV and STD rates. The latter were high: 16.9% of all subjects were HIV-positive, 10.0% had syphilis, and 23.8% of women had trichomonas and 50.9% had bacterial vaginosis. CONCLUSIONS: Testing the effects of STD control on AIDS prevention is feasible in this Ugandan setting.

PIP: An ongoing (1994-98) randomized, community-based trial in Uganda's Rakai District is assessing the assumption that intensive sexually transmitted disease (STD) control efforts result in marked declines in HIV/AIDS prevalence. Described, in this article, are the project design and findings of the first-round baseline survey. 56 communities were grouped into 10 clusters designed to encompass social/sexual networks and clusters within blocks were randomly assigned to the intervention or control arm. All consenting permanent residents of the district are visited in their homes at 10-month intervals where they are administered extensive questionnaires, provide urine and vaginal swab samples, and are offered mass treatment regardless of symptoms or laboratory testing (single oral dose STD treatment in the intervention arm and anthelmintics and iron folate in the control arm). Both groups receive identical health education, condom promotion, and serologic counseling services. In the first round of home visits, 5834 intervention and 5784 control arm subjects were enrolled, representing about 90% of eligible adults. The groups were comparable in terms of sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and baseline rates of HIV and STDs. 16.9% of subjects were HIV-positive, 10.0% had syphilis, 23.8% of women had trichomonas, and 50.9% had bacterial vaginosis. Detailed STD assessment is expected not only to document the relationship between STD control and HIV, but also to identify which STDs confer the greatest population attributable risk for HIV transmission, facilitating targeted control efforts in the future.

Relative risks and population attributable fraction of incident HIV associated with symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases and treatable symptomatic sexually transmitted diseases in Rakai District, Uganda. Rakai Project Team.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the linkage of sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms and treatable STD to HIV incidence. DESIGN: Analysis of a randomized trial of STD control for HIV prevention, Rakai, Uganda. METHODS: Consenting adults 15-59 years of age were seen at 10-monthly home visits, interviewed regarding STD symptoms, and asked to provide samples for HIV and STD diagnoses. HIV incidence was determined in 8089 HIV-negative subjects over 10 457 person years. Adjusted rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of HIV acquisition associated with genital ulcer disease (GUD) and discharge/dysuria were used to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of HIV acquisition. HIV transmission risks associated with STD symptoms in HIV-positive partners of 167 HIV discordant couples and the numbers of sexual partners reported by HIV-positive subjects were used to estimate the PAF of HIV transmission attributable to STD. RESULTS: HIV prevalence was 16%. The risk of HIV acquisition was increased with GUD (RR 3.14; CI 1.98-4.98) and in males with discharge/dysuria (RR 2.44; CI 1.17-5.12), but not in females with discharge/dysuria. The PAF of HIV acquisition was 9.5% (CI 2.8-15.8%) with any of the three STD symptoms. The PAF for GUD was 8.8% (CI 3.7-13.8), but only 8.2% of reported GUD was caused by treatable syphilis or chancroid . The PAF for discharge/dysuria in males was 6.7% (CI 1.1-13.8), but only 25% of symptomatic males had concurrent gonorrhea or chlamydial infection. No significant differences were seen in PAF between study treatment arms. The PAF of HIV transmission associated with STD symptoms in HIV-positive persons was indirectly estimated to be 10.4%. CONCLUSION: In this mature, generalized HIV epidemic setting, most HIV seroconversion occurs without recognized STD symptoms or curable STD detected by screening. Therefore, syndromic management or other strategies of STD treatment are unlikely to substantially reduce HIV incidence in this population. However, STD is associated with significant HIV risk at the individual level, and STD management is needed to protect individuals.

Sero-prevalence of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in Rakai district, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is sexually transmitted and causes one of the genital ulcerative diseases associated with the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of serological reactivity to a type specific HSV-2 antigen (gG2) ELISA assay. SETTING: Rakai district, Uganda. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and one serum samples of persons aged 15-54 years. The samples were randomly selected by a computer programme. RESULTS: Out of the 201 serum samples selected, 117 (58.2%) had serological evidence of HSV-2 infection. Twenty nine (32.2%) out of the 74 males and 88 (69.3%) out of the 127 females, respectively, had serological evidence of HSV-2 infection giving a female:male ratio of 1.8 (95% CI 1.3-2.4). The most important risk factor for acquisition of HSV-2 in males was found to be age while in the females, the most important risk factors were age and the number of sexual partners in the previous five years. CONCLUSION: HSV-2 was highly prevalent in this rural population of Uganda.

Community based study of treatment seeking among subjects with symptoms of sexually transmitted disease in rural Uganda.

PIP: This paper presents a community based study of treatment seeking among people with symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in rural Uganda. The effects of asymptomatic infections and treatment seeking behavior on control of sexually transmitted disease were quantified. The study suggests that treating only individuals with STD symptoms results in only a small proportion of the infected population being reached. This situation leads to fewer people receiving effective health care. Thus, STD control programs in medically underserved populations must take into account the prevalence of asymptomatic infections and the health related practices of people with STDs symptoms to design strategies for reducing transmission of these diseases.^ieng

Loss to follow up from isoniazid preventive therapy among adults attending HIV voluntary counseling and testing sites in Uganda.

Among HIV-infected adults attending non-governmental organization voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) sites in Uganda that provide a nine-month course of isoniazid preventive treatment (IPT), we report on loss to follow-up (LTFU) and its associated risk factors. The design was a retrospective cohort study of program data spanning a three year period (2006-2008). A total of 586 IPT patients were enrolled of whom 335 (57.1%) were females with a mean age of 34 years. Of those starting IPT, 341 (58.1%) were lost to follow-up, 197 (33.6%) completed IPT, 29 (4.9%) were discontinued and 19 (3.2%) died. The return rates at one, three, five and seven months were 78.0% (457), 62.1% (364), 52.9% (310) and 33.6% (197) respectively. Being less than 30 years of age, widowed, separated, or divorced were found to be associated with a higher risk of loss to follow-up. Sudden improvement in retention on IPT was observed between the years 2006 and 2007, although causes of the improvement are poorly understood hence the need for more research. At non-governmental VCT sites in Uganda, six out of ten individuals enrolled on IPT are lost to follow-up and efforts to reduce this attrition including systems strengthening might play a critical role in the success of IPT programs.

Species diversity and relative abundance of vaginal lactic acid bacteria from women in Uganda and Korea.

AIMS: Lactobacilli play an important role in maintaining vaginal health of women. The aim of this study was to compare the species richness and relative abundance of Lactobacillus and other lactic acid bacteria in women of two geographically distant countries, Uganda and Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: Vaginal samples were obtained from two women populations in Uganda and Korea. The Lactobacillus Rogosa SL agar was used for initial isolation of lactic acid bacteria. After phenotypic analyses, the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase-chain reaction and analysed by the BLAST program and phylogenetic tree construction. A total of 338 (128 Korean and 210 Ugandan) vaginal lactic acid bacterial strains were isolated, including five genera: Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Streptococcus and Weissella. While Lactobacillus crispatus was common in both populations, Lactobacillus fermentum was common only in Korean women, and Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus vaginalis only in Ugandan women. Among other lactic acid bacteria, Weissella was more common in Ugandan, and Pediococcus in Korean women. All Weissella strains produced hydrogen peroxide, and all Pediococcus strains inhibited Candida species. CONCLUSION: Although many lactic acid bacteria colonize women, their species distributions may be different in women of geographically separated communities. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The knowledge of species richness and relative abundance of vaginal lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and Weissella, may lead to the design of better probiotic products as bacterial replacement therapy.

Prevalence of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus compared with selected sexually transmitted diseases in adolescents and young adults in rural Rakai District, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is transmitted by routes such as homosexual intercourse and is associated with HIV infection in industrialized countries. However, there is little information about its transmission in developing countries where Kaposi sarcoma is an endemic disease. GOAL: To examine KSHV seroprevalence in young adults in a general, rural Ugandan population, and to compare this prevalence with rates of known sexually transmitted infections. STUDY DESIGN: The seroprevalence of KSHV was compared with the epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases in 523 sexually active subjects aged 15 to 29 years who were randomly selected from a general population cohort in rural Rakai District, Uganda. Participants provided in-home interview data and specimens. Sera were tested for KSHV using immunofluorescence assay and immunoblot for lytically expressed recombinant KSHV ORF65.2. Sera were also tested for HIV type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and syphilis. RESULTS: The prevalence of KSHV was significantly higher in participants 15 to 19 years compared with older persons 25 to 29 years (45.0% and 36.1%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.82). In contrast, herpes simplex virus type 2 and HIV type 1 prevalence increased with age. Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus serostatus was not associated with HIV type 1, syphilis, herpes simplex virus type 2, or number of sexual partners. Homosexual and anal intercourse were reported by less than 1% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus does not appear to be a heterosexually transmitted infection in rural Uganda.

Burden of infection among heads and non-head of rural households in Rakai, Uganda.

The objective was to determine HIV prevalence, symptomatology and mortality among adult heads and non-heads of households, in order to assess the burden of HIV on households. It was a community study of 11,536 adults aged 15-59, residing in 4,962 households in 56 villages, Rakai district, Uganda. First, 4,962 heads and 6,574 non-heads of households were identified from censuses. Interviews were then used to determine socio-demographic/behavioural characteristics. HIV seroprevalence was diagnosed by two EIAs with Western blot confirmation. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of HIV infection in household heads and non-heads were estimated by multivariate logistic regression. Age-adjusted mortality was also assessed. HIV prevalence was 16.9% in the population, and 21.5% of households had at least one HIV-infected person (<0.0001). HIV prevalence was higher among heads than non-heads of households (21.5 and 13.3%, respectively, OR=1.79; CI 1.62-1.97). Most household heads were males (70.5%), and HIV prevalence was 17.8% among male heads compared with 6.6% in male non-heads of households (OR=2.31; CI 1.65-2.52). Women heading households were predominantly widowed, separated or divorced (64.4%). HIV prevalence was 30.5% among female heads, compared with 15.6% in female non-household heads (OR=1.42; CI 1.15-1.63). Age-adjusted mortality was significantly lower among male household heads than non-heads, both for the HIV-positive (RR=0.68) and HIV-negative men (RR=0.63). Among women, HIV-negative female household heads had significantly higher mortality than HIV-uninfected female non-heads (RR=1.72). HIV disproportionately affects heads of households, particularly males. Mortality due to AIDS is likely to increase the proportion of female-headed households, and adversely affect the welfare of domestic units.