Evaluation of the efficacy of a low-passage bovine rotavirus (strain WC3) vaccine in children in Central Africa.

The safety and efficacy of a WC3 rotavirus vaccine was evaluated in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial involving 472 children in Bangui (Central African Republic). Each child received two doses of either placebo (235 children) or vaccine (237 children) at a 1-month interval, the first dose being given at 3 months of age. During the follow-up survey 9 months after the first dose, 117 rotavirus diarrhoeas were observed, 59 in the placebo group, 58 in the vaccinated group.

Detection of anti-HIV IgA in tears of children born to seropositive mothers is highly specific.

In order to improve the diagnosis of HIV infection in children born to seropositive mothers, 86 children were previously tested by Western blotting for anti-HIV IgA in tears and IgG in serum, at a median age of 9.2 months. To determine the exact value of the assay, 68/86 children of the same cohort were retested 9 months later.

Antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in the breast milk of healthy, seropositive women.

Reports of rare cases of suspected transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from mother to children by breast milk have been recently published. To study the factors that possibly limit HIV transmission through breast-feeding, milk samples obtained from 15 healthy, seropositive mothers and 4 seronegative control subjects were studied for the presence of anti-HIV antibodies. All samples from seropositive women contained IgG antibody against envelope glycoproteins gp160 and/or gp120, and 11 of 15 samples contained IgA antibodies against gp160.

HIV-specific IgA antibodies in tears of children with AIDS or at risk of AIDS.

To improve on the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, 14 children with clinical evidence of AIDS, 86 children less than 15 months old and born to seropositive mothers, and 29 controls were tested for the presence of IgA antibody in tears directed against HIV antigens on Western blots. IgA antibodies in tears against env- and pol-encoded proteins were present in 13 of 14 children with AIDS and in 13 of 86 children born to seropositive mothers. No HIV-specific IgA was observed in tears of the 29 controls.

Cluster of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella enteritidis infections in the Central African Republic.

Salmonella enteritidis strains which are multiply resistant to antimicrobial agents were isolated from the blood of 12 patients hospitalized at the Institut Pasteur of Bangui, Central African Republic, during a 4.5-month period. The lack of gas production in Kligler-Hajna medium initially suggested Salmonella typhi, but isolates were confirmed as unusual S.

Lympho-cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma in an African pediatric AIDS case.

A case of disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma with lymphoid and mucocutaneous involvement in an African infant with acquired immune deficiency syndrome is reported. The child died within 2 months after recognition.

[Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection in the Central African Republic].

In order to determine the proportion of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Bangui (Central African Republic) infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we collected prospectively serum samples from all new TB patients seen at the University Hospital in Bangui during a three-month period (nov. 87-Jan. 88).

Parasitic, bacterial, and viral enteric pathogens associated with diarrhea in the Central African Republic.

A total of 1,197 diarrheic children less than 15 years old were investigated for parasitic, bacterial, and viral enteropathogens from March 1981 through February 1982 in the Central African Republic. One or more pathogens were identified from 49.4% of the patients.