Prevalent infectious diseases in patients with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.

Infectious diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected persons in Ethiopia. Though no systematic studies have been performed, anecdotal reports are available mostly from cross-sectional studies on the associations between the most prevalent infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS. In this review, we present the most frequently reported infectious diseases among people living with HIV/AIDS in the country, with the need for strengthening diagnostic laboratories being urgent in order to support surveillance as well as control measures.

Correlates of children's cognitive skills in an Agrarian community with mixed crop-livestock production systems, Ghinchi, central Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Ghinchi farming community, central Ethiopia during October and November 2001 to assess the level of association between children's nutritional status, families' socio-economic gradient, and degree of maternal attention and cognitive development. Ninety children were enrolled in the study, and assessment for cognitive performance was carried out using Bailey Infant Development Scale II. A pilot tested questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-economic status, mothers' care behavior, sanitary conditions of households and feeding pattern, and anthropometry of children.

Simple markers for initiating antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected Ethiopians.

Background: We explored the relevance of simple markers (clinical or laboratory markers not requiring sophisticated laboratories) in the decision of initiation of therapy in resource-poor settings.

Methods: Among HIV-infected Ethiopian cohort participants, simple markers predicting short-term death were examined using time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models. Timing of hypothetical treatment was compared between guidelines using the simple markers (based on presence of at least one marker), guidelines recommended by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (based on CD4 cell count and viral load), and guidelines for resource-limited settings recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Evidence of changes in sexual behaviours among male factory workers in Ethiopia.

Objective: To assess changes in sexual behaviours among male factory workers in Ethiopia.

Design: Open cohort studies in two factories near Addis Ababa.

Data And Methods: At intake and biannual follow-up visits, data were collected on sexual behaviours including casual sex, sex with commercial sex workers (CSW), condom use, and history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as indicated by genital discharge and genital ulcer.

Performance of routine syphilis serology in the Ethiopian cohort on HIV/AIDS.

Objectives: To assess the performance of routine syphilis screening during 5 year follow up of Ethiopian factory workers, participating in a cohort study on HIV/AIDS.

Methods: Syphilis serology test results of factory workers, who each donated at least six blood samples were evaluated. Screening in 1997-8 had been performed by the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) assay and in 1999-2001 by the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: transmission patterns and vaccine control.

A community-based seroepidemiological survey of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was conducted in 1994 to inform on the transmission dynamics and control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Venous blood from 4736 individuals under 50 years of age from 1262 households, selected using stratified cluster-sampling, was screened for HBV markers using commercial ELISAs. HBsAg prevalence was 7% (95 % CI 6-8), higher in males (9%; 7-10) than females (5%; 4-6).

Simple markers for initiating antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected Ethiopians.

Background: We explored the relevance of simple markers (clinical or laboratory markers not requiring sophisticated laboratories) in the decision of initiation of therapy in resource-poor settings.

Methods: Among HIV-infected Ethiopian cohort participants, simple markers predicting short-term death were examined using time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models. Timing of hypothetical treatment was compared between guidelines using the simple markers (based on presence of at least one marker), guidelines recommended by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (based on CD4 cell count and viral load), and guidelines for resource-limited settings recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Evidence of changes in sexual behaviours among male factory workers in Ethiopia.

Objective: To assess changes in sexual behaviours among male factory workers in Ethiopia.

Design: Open cohort studies in two factories near Addis Ababa.

Data And Methods: At intake and biannual follow-up visits, data were collected on sexual behaviours including casual sex, sex with commercial sex workers (CSW), condom use, and history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as indicated by genital discharge and genital ulcer.

Primary HIV-1 subtype C infection in Ethiopia.

Between 1997 and 2001, 1624 Ethiopian factory workers were enrolled in prospective HIV-1 cohorts in Ethiopia, at Akaki and Wonji towns. HIV-1 seroprevalence at intake was 11.8% (Akaki) and 7.

Timing of the HIV-1 subtype C epidemic in Ethiopia based on early virus strains and subsequent virus diversification.

Objective: To trace the introduction of HIV-1 subtype C into Ethiopia based on virus diversification during the epidemic.

Design: A set of 474 serum samples obtained in Ethiopia in 1982-1985 was tested for HIV-1. HIV-1 env gp120 V3 and gag or pol regions were sequenced and analysed together with sequences from later stages of the epidemic.

Timing of the introduction into Ethiopia of subcluster C' of HIV type 1 subtype C.

Viruses circulating in Ethiopia during the 1990s cluster with main subtype C, but a significant subcluster, C', was noted in multiple analyses. This subcluster of subtype C(C') was in a fifty-fifty equilibrium with the main subtype C (Abebe et al., AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2000;16:1909-1914).

Health seeking and hygiene behaviours predict nutritional status of pre-school children in a slum area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study was done from March to May 1997 in four selected slum kebeles (villages) of Addis Ababa in which nutritional status of 758 children aged 6 to 36 months was examined and stratified into malnourished and well nourished groups. Analysis of hygiene and health seeking practices of randomly selected households of the two sets of children determined practices that significantly exacerbate childhood malnutrition. The rates of immunization for the malnourished (80.

Identification of a genetic subcluster of HIV type 1 subtype C (C') widespread in Ethiopia.

Others and we have previously shown that subtype C is the predominant HIV-1 subtype and the major cause of AIDS in Ethiopia. The present study shows that subtype C in Ethiopia has a genetic subcluster, designated C', has not increased in frequency, or spread geographically, over the period 1988 (%C' = 23/53) to 1996-1997 (%C' = 26/50). There is no association of the HIV-1 subtype C or subcluster C' with geographic location, time of sample collection, or risk group in Ethiopia.

Epidemiology of infections with intestinal parasites and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among sugar-estate residents in Ethiopia.

Intestinal parasitic infections could play an important role in the progression of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), by further disturbing the immune system whilst it is already engaged in the fight against HIV. HIV and intestinal parasitic infections were investigated in 1239, randomly selected individuals, aged 15-54 years, living on a sugar estate in central Ethiopia. Intestinal parasites were identified in faecal samples (one/subject) using direct, concentration, and (for Strongyloides stercoralis larvae) Baermann methods.

Malnutrition and xerophthalmia in rural communities of Ethiopia.

Objective: To determine the level of malnutrition and xerophthalmia in pre-school children.

Designs: Non-randomised community based study.

Settings: Four different administrative regions: Harari, Tigray, Southern Nation Nationalities and people region (SNNPR) and Oromiya, with different eco-zones, were studied from May to June 1996.

Reduced naive and increased activated CD4 and CD8 cells in healthy adult Ethiopians compared with their Dutch counterparts.

To assess possible differences in immune status, proportions and absolute numbers of subsets of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were compared between HIV- healthy Ethiopians (n = 52) and HIV- Dutch (n = 60). Both proportions and absolute numbers of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were found to be significantly reduced in HIV Ethiopians compared with HIV- Dutch subjects. Also, both proportions and absolute numbers of the effector CD8+ T cell population as well as the CD4+CD45RA-CD27- and CD8+CD45RA-CD27- T cell populations were increased in Ethiopians.