Longitudinal studies of children born to HIV-1 antibody positive Filipino commercial sex workers (CSW): diagnostic dilemmas.

Fifteen term babies born to 12 HIV-1 antibody positive Filipino CSW have been monitored for signs and symptoms of HIV-1 infection. Eleven babies were enrolled in the study within the first 6 months after birth; 4 others were enrolled at 4, 9, 11 and 21 months of age respectively. Every 3 months after enrolment, each baby received a physical examination, serum was tested for HIV-1 antibodies and p24 antigen and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured for isolation of virus.

Capillariasis philippinensis: a fish-borne parasitic zoonosis.

Fish from lagoons in Northern Luzon, Philippines, have been shown experimentally to be intermediate hosts of Capillaria philippinensis. Eggs ingested by the fish hatch in the intestines and the larvae double in size in 3 weeks. When fed to monkeys, Mongolian gerbils and birds, the larvae develop into adults and reproduce.

HIV-1 seropositive women in the Philippines: pregnancy outcome and perinatal transmission of HIV-1.

Annual surveillance studies were initiated in 1985 to determine the incidence and prevalence of HIV-1 infection in female prostitutes registered through the Social Hygiene Clinic System of the Philippine Department of Health. All of the confirmed HIV-1 seropositive women detected in the above surveys who could be contacted were followed up about every three months to monitor their clinical and immunological status. Since we regularly interviewed and examined these HIV-1 seropositive women, we were able to note the occurrence of pregnancies following HIV diagnosis.

Sexual behavior of Filipino female prostitutes after diagnosis of HIV infection.

A study of female prostitutes in Manila who tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody ascertained demographic and sexual behavior information following diagnosis. Counselling alone did not appear to have a major impact on the sexual behavior of the HIV positive women since most continued to work as prostitutes. Switching from high risk to low risk jobs in bars is not effective in preventing HIV positive women from engaging in prostitution.

Epidemiology of HIV infection among prostitutes in the Philippines.

Between 1985 and 1987, examinations for human immune deficiency virus (HIV) antibody were done on 25,392 prostitutes working in 64 cities throughout the Philippines. The country-wide seropositivity rate among prostitutes based on this sample was 0.8/1,000.