Temporal trend and characteristics of recent HIV-1 infections: application of an algorithm for the identification of recently acquired HIV-1 infections among newly diagnosed individuals over a 10-year period.

Identification of recent infections (RI) may contribute to improve the quality of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) surveillance, monitoring ongoing transmission and planning and evaluating prevention programs. Our study applied an algorithm combining clinical and serological information to identify RI in individuals newly diagnosed with HIV in Rome, during the years 1999-2008, in order to describe the trend and characteristics of recently infected individuals. RI were documented seroconverters, or people with an HIV avidity index (AI)<0.

HIV incidence estimate combining HIV/AIDS surveillance, testing history information and HIV test to identify recent infections in Lazio, Italy.

Background: The application of serological methods in HIV/AIDS routine surveillance systems to identify persons with recently acquired HIV infection has been proposed as a tool which may provide an accurate description of the current transmission patterns of HIV. Using the information about recent infection it is possible to estimate HIV incidence, according to the model proposed by Karon et al. in 2008, that accounts for the effect of testing practices on the number of persons detected as recently infected.

Seroprevalence of dengue infection: a cross-sectional survey in mainland Tanzania and on Pemba Island, Zanzibar.

Objective: Evidence available to date indicates that dengue viruses 1, 2, and 3 could be among the causes of acute fever in eastern Africa. Recently, four reports on dengue infection in travelers and residents have raised concerns over the occurrence of dengue fever in mainland Tanzania and in Zanzibar. The objective of this study was to provide seroprevalence data on dengue infection in Tanzania.

High HIV prevalence in male patients with acute hepatitis A in the Rome metropolitan area, Italy 2002-2008.

Background & Aims: Several outbreaks of hepatitis A affecting homosexual men have been reported in Europe. However, the prevalence of HIV infection in patients affected by hepatitis A has not been extensively studied and hepatitis A is not considered as an indicator disease for routine HIV testing.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all adult cases of acute hepatitis A, reported by the National Institute of Infectious Disease "L.

Rapid detection and quantification of Chikungunya virus by a one-step reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction real-time assay.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus. A large outbreak of CHIKV disease occurred in 2005 in the Indian Ocean Islands. Many cases have been imported in European countries.