Development of a new accurate lateral flow immunoassay for diagnosis of human leptospirosis.

Purpose: The current diagnostic methods for leptospirosis diagnosis are technically complex and expensive, with limited applicability to specialized laboratories. Furthermore, they lack diagnostic accuracy in the acute stage of the disease, which coincides with a period when antibiotics are highly effective. New simple and accurate tests are mandatory to decentralize and improve diagnosis.

Utility evaluation of two molecular methods for spp. typing in human serum samples.

Most of the available genotyping methods were applied and evaluated in isolates and only few of them in a relevant sample size of blood specimens but not of sera. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of one partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing assay (16S rRNA) and an optimized. Multilocus sequence typing scheme (MLST) for typing directly in serum samples.

[First report on Leptospira interrogans in the sigmodontine rodent Scapteromys aquaticusPrimeiro relato da presença de Leptospira interrogans em roedores sigmodontíneos Scapteromys aquaticus].

Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis that can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with the urine or tissues of infected animals. In Argentina, leptospirosis is endemic in the province of Santa Fe and epidemic outbreaks occur during floods. However, very little is known about the role that wild rodents play in the spread of the disease in Argentina.

Low-level genital HIV shedding in Thai HIV-infected women with suppressed plasma viral load after menopause: a longitudinal study.

Objectives: First, to evaluate the longitudinal changes of HIV RNA in genital secretions in HIV-positive women with plasma HIV RNA <50 copies/mL before and after the onset of menopause. Second, to assess inflammatory markers and prevalence of comorbidities after the onset of menopause.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study with two time points.

Strategies to improve the uptake of effective contraception in perinatally HIV-infected adolescents.

Objective: To assess strategies to improve safe-sex practices in sexually active female adolescents living with HIV, through linking reproductive health (RH) care with HIV care.

Methods: A single arm, 48-week prospective study was conducted with 77 sexually active adolescents in five sites in Thailand. Guided RH education was carried out through video, brochures and individual counselling.

Diagnostic accuracy of an IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and comparison with 2 polymerase chain reactions for early diagnosis of human leptospirosis.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may play a key role for early detection and treatment of human leptospirosis in developing countries. The aims of this study were to develop and validate an IgM ELISA under field conditions and to compare the diagnostic accuracy among IgG, IgM ELISAs, conventional PCR (cPCR), and real-time PCR (rtPCR) for early detection of human leptospirosis. Overall accuracy of IgM ELISA was sensitivity of 87.

Isolation and clinical sample typing of human leptospirosis cases in Argentina.

Leptospira typing is carried out using isolated strains. Because of difficulties in obtaining them, direct identification of infective Leptospira in clinical samples is a high priority. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) proved highly discriminatory for seven pathogenic species of Leptospira, allowing isolate characterization and robust assignment to species, in addition to phylogenetic evidence for the relatedness between species.

[Evaluation of a reduced panel of leptospira strains for microagglutination].

Objective: To evaluate if the use of the 19 Leptospira strains panel suggested by the International Leptospirosis Society of World Health Organization for microagglutination allows confirmation of more cases that the 12 strains panel used in Argentina.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. We studied 441 serum samples corresponding to Argentinean patients with suspected leptospirosis derived during from July to December, 2009 and from January to October, 2013.

Uptake and continuous use of copper intrauterine device in a cohort of HIV-positive women.

Copper intrauterine device (IUD) is not commonly used in many countries, though it provides effective reversible contraception with no or minimal primary systemic side effects. We assessed its uptake and continuation of use among HIV-positive Thai women. Sixty-six of 322 women of reproductive age, whom we approached for the study, met the eligibility criteria.

Efavirenz, in contrast to nevirapine, is associated with unfavorable progesterone and antiretroviral levels when coadministered with combined oral contraceptives.

Background: Effective contraception has been widely promoted for HIV-positive women. However, there are limited data on the interactions between combined hormonal contraceptives and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors .

Methods: This study assessed the steady-state contraceptive effectiveness and safety of combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing 0.

Sexual life, options for contraception and intention for conception in HIV-positive people on successful antiretroviral therapy in Thailand.

This article reports on the sexual life of HIV-positive heterosexual men and women in a stable relationship and on successful antiretroviral therapy in Thailand. We focused on one side on their sexual practices and options for contraception, and on the other on their intention for conception and factors influencing it, in the time of highly active antiretroviral therapy. In a cross-sectional study, 200 participants completed a questionnaire.