Clinical, molecular and drug sensitivity pattern of mycobacterial isolates from extra-pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: In conjunction with the spread of HIV infection, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of illness and death worldwide. The Ethiopian national report reveals that extra pulmonary tuberculosis is on the rise and that case detection rate is exceeding that of smear positive or negative cases in many parts of the country. Different studies indicated that host and/or pathogen related factors are associated with the rise of extra pulmonary cases.

Impact of hepatitis C virus co-infection on HIV patients before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy: an immunological and clinical chemistry observation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus which has been known to cause acute and chronic necro-inflammatory disease of the liver. It is the leading cause of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. HIV is known to have a negative impact on the natural disease outcome and immune response of HCV infection, whereas the reverse remains unclear.

Anti-tuberculosis drug resistance among retreatment patients seen at St Peter Tuberculosis Specialized Hospital.

Background: Resistance to first line anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs is an increasing concern. Drug sensitivity of mycobacterial isolates from patients who failed treatment may indicate the potential sources of spread and the emerging patterns of resistance.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of resistance to the main anti TB drugs among re-treatment cases who had previously received loose drugs or the 3FDC regimen in the intensive phase.

Leishmania aethiopica: strain identification and characterization of superoxide dismutase-B genes.

This study was performed to characterize the genes that code for superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Leishmania aethiopica. It involved three main steps: specimen collection and parasite isolation, species identification, and molecular characterization of the SOD genes. Out of 20 skin slit specimens cultured and processed from suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis patients enrolled in the study, five (25%) were found to be positive for motile promastigotes.