Virus Coinfection Research Articles

Molecular detection of respiratory viruses: an observational study on respiratory co-infections in children and adults.

Respiratory tract infection (RTI) is the most important cause of visiting both public and private medical care services. During the decade preceding Covid-19, in developing countries, there was a gap in the epidemiology of respiratory viral infections, probably due to the difficulty of detecting viral agents in clinical microbiology laboratories routine, at that time. In this context, the aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of virus, demographic factors associated and the likelihood of coinfections detection by multiplex PCR methods. The target also was to determine the involvement of respiratory viruses other than SARS-CoV-2 as agents of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) using rapid respiratory panels by multiplex real time PCR with flow chip methodology. Samples of SARSs patients, 530 in total, were tested between 2022 and 2023, obtained from nasopharyngeal swabs, nasopharyngeal exudates or nasopharyngeal aspirates. Of 530 tests, 30% was human rhinovirus, the most prevalent, followed by respiratory syncytial virus B (21.5%) and human adenovirus (17.4%). Among the total of positive samples, 83.8% belonged to patients aged between 0 and 10 years, 62.6% of whom were aged between 1 and 10 years. Multiple virus detection was found in 50.4% of the samples tested, 93.1% of which were from patients under the age of 18. Viral co-infection was evident in the finding and was higher (88.7%) in patients under the age of 18 yeas.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection in Alagoas, Brazil: a picture from 2009 to 2019

Objective: The present study surveyed the sociodemographic characteristics of individuals affected by co-infection with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) in Alagoas-Brazil. Methods: The study was conducted with two different databases of Sistema de Informação de Agravos e Notificação (SINAN) with cases notified between 2009 and 2019. An additional cohort of HIV infected patients from PAM Salgadinho Specialized Health Unit, Municipal Health Department of Maceió-Alagoas, Brazil was also evaluated. The data was analyzed descriptively and by statistical tests to evaluate the population profile and potential associations. Results: During the period evaluated, 14,318 cases of tuberculosis and 1,438 human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis co-infections were notified. Most co-infected cases were identified in men (63.13%), between 30 and 59 years old (72.53%), with incomplete primary education (27.88%), alcoholics (61.02%), and homeless (48.09%). Significant correlations suggest that death by co-infection was more common among men, population between 30 and 59 years old and with complete superior education. Also, the HIV viral load was significantly higher in the co-infected group. Conclusion: The results show the recent scenario of HIV/TB co-infection in Alagoas-Brazil, revealing a profile of social vulnerability situation and increased risk of death. These observations suggest that public health policies should be developed looking carefully at this portion of the population, to provide quality of life, less death and more adherence to TB treatment.

Coinfection of some respiratory viruses in cattle: An abattoir study.

To investigate the existence of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV-3) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well as its coinfections, a total of 420 pneumonic lung tissue samples were collected from slaughterhouses in three different areas. Samples were examined for the three viruses using antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, and positive results were further confirmed using fluorescent antibody test and polymerase chain reaction. Prevalences detected were 10.47% for BVDV, 11.9% for parainfluenza virus type (PIV-3) and 7.6% for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Observed coinfections were bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and PIV-3 in 8.1%, BVD and RSV in only two samples (1%). Existence of all three viruses was detected in two samples (1%).Contribution:In this study, infection of the three viruses was confirmed in cattle and existence of its coinfection is documented for the first time.

Hepatitis A and hepatitis E virus co-infection in children with acute viral hepatitis, associated risk factors and clinical outcome in a tertiary care hospital: A prospective observational study

Hepatitis A and hepatitis E virus co-infection in children with acute viral hepatitis, associated risk factors and clinical outcome in a tertiary care hospital: A prospective observational study

Recent advances in HPV biotechnology: understanding host-virus interactions and cancer progression – a review

Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women globally, posing a significant mortality risk. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary instigator of cervical cancer development, often alongside coinfection with other viruses, precipitating various malignancies. This study aimed to explore recent biotechnological advances in understanding HPV infection dynamics, host interactions, and its role in oncogenesis. The gathered data shed light on HPV biology, host-virus interplay, viral coinfections, and cellular transformations leading to HPV-associated cancers. Recent years have seen the introduction of diverse vaccination strategies, including live attenuated, subunit, and DNA-based vaccines, complemented by innovative nanotechnology and plant-based products. Despite rich data addressing research inquiries, urgent calls echo for the implementation of contemporary screening and therapeutic modalities at clinical levels. Moreover, extensive public awareness campaigns are imperative to alleviate the burden of HPV-related diseases, emphasizing the necessity for proactive intervention strategies in combating this global health challenge.

Secondary Syphilis with Multiple Co-Infections of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB), and Oral Candidiasis in a 19-Year-Old Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): A Case Report

Secondary Syphilis with Multiple Co-Infections of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB), and Oral Candidiasis in a 19-Year-Old Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): A Case Report

Secondary Syphilis with Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Coinfection: A Case Report

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by spirochete microorganism Treponema pallidum, the infection spreads in four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. It can impact almost all organ systems in the body, even years or even decades after the initial infection. Syphilis is an infection that could be transmitted sexually with almost 21.000 new cases in Indonesia. The CDC also estimates that 44% of men who have sex with men and bisexual men who test positive for syphilis will also have HIV. The infection has also re-emerged in developed countries in homosexual population with high number of cases co-infected with HIV. Syphilis is also very common among people with multiple sexual partners, Significant risk factors include HIV infection, this coinfection is common, and the two diseases affect each other in several ways. HIV and syphilis each facilitate infection by the other, and aggravate one another’s clinical course. A 34year-old male was referred from public health center with red rashes found on the palm and soles bilaterally since 1 month before visit. Dermatological examination of the palms and soles showed multiple violaceous macules with clear boundaries, with varying sizes between 0.5cm-1cm,no alopecia,no abnormalities were found in oral mucosa, The result of VDRL examination the titer was 1:64, and TPHA result was Positif. Rapid HIV test showed positive result. Patient was prescribed Benzanthine Peniciline injection intra muscular 2.4 million IU, the patient experienced clinical improvement and decreased VDRL and TPHA titers after a two month of evaluation. Co-infection of syphilis and HIV , HIV and syphilis each facilitate infection by the other, and aggravate one another’s clinical course. The majority of persons with HIV infection respond appropriately to the recommended benzathine penicillin G treatment regimen for primary and secondary syphilis.

Proteomic profiling of the local and systemic immune response to pediatric respiratory viral infections.

Viral lower respiratory tract infection (vLRTI) is a leading cause of hospitalization and death in children worldwide. Despite this, no studies have employed proteomics to characterize host immune responses to severe pediatric vLRTI in both the lower airway and systemic circulation. To address this gap, gain insights into vLRTI pathophysiology, and test a novel diagnostic approach, we assayed 1,305 proteins in tracheal aspirate (TA) and plasma from 62 critically ill children using SomaScan. We performed differential expression (DE) and pathway analyses comparing vLRTI (n = 40) to controls with non-infectious acute respiratory failure (n = 22), developed a diagnostic classifier using LASSO regression, and analyzed matched TA and plasma samples. We further investigated the impact of viral load and bacterial coinfection on the proteome. The TA signature of vLRTI was characterized by 200 DE proteins (Padj <0.05) with upregulation of interferons and T cell responses and downregulation of inflammation-modulating proteins including FABP and MIP-5. A nine-protein TA classifier achieved an area under the receiver operator curve (AUC) of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.90-1.00) for identifying vLRTI. In plasma, the host response to vLRTI was more muted with 56 DE proteins. Correlation between TA and plasma was limited, although ISG15 was elevated in both compartments. In bacterial coinfection, we observed increases in the TNF-stimulated protein TSG-6, as well as CRP, and interferon-related proteins. Viral load correlated positively with interferon signaling and negatively with neutrophil-activation pathways. Taken together, our study provides fresh insights into the lower airway and systemic proteome of severe pediatric vLRTI and identifies novel protein biomarkers with diagnostic potential.IMPORTANCEWe describe the first proteomic profiling of the lower airway and blood in critically ill children with severe viral lower respiratory tract infection (vLRTI). From tracheal aspirate (TA), we defined a proteomic signature of vLRTI characterized by increased expression of interferon signaling proteins and decreased expression of proteins involved in immune modulation including FABP and MIP-5. Using machine learning, we developed a parsimonious diagnostic classifier that distinguished vLRTI from non-infectious respiratory failure with high accuracy. Comparative analysis of paired TA and plasma specimens demonstrated limited concordance, although the interferon-stimulated protein ISG15 was significantly upregulated with vLRTI in both compartments. We further identified TSG-6 and CRP as airway biomarkers of bacterial-viral coinfection, and viral load analyses demonstrated a positive correlation with interferon-related protein expression and a negative correlation with the expression of neutrophil activation proteins. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the lower airway and systemic proteome of severe pediatric vLRTI.

Significance of respiratory virus coinfection in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

ObjectiveMycoplasma pneumoniae is a major causative pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia. Respiratory viral coinfections in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) are not uncommon and cause severe clinical manifestations. This study aims to investigate the impacts of viral coinfection in MPP patients and hopes to offer novel insights for discriminating between MPP and MPP coinfection.MethodsThis study recruited 748 children hospitalized for MP pneumonia between January 2021 and October 2023. Patients were classified into two groups: MPP coinfected with respiratory virus group and MPP group. All children underwent polymerase chain reaction testing for respiratory pathogens. Baseline clinical features and demographic data were obtained retrospectively through medical records.ResultsThe retrospective study included 748 patients, with a viral coinfection rate of 38.75%. Patients in the MPP coinfected with respiratory virus group have a higher disease burden than those in the non-coinfection group. Our findings indicate that patients with Mycoplasma pneumonia co-infected with respiratory viruses had longer hospital stays and prolonged fever post-admission, as well as more severe conditions and a higher incidence of extrapulmonary complications. MPP coinfection was associated with the following factors: patients with extrapulmonary complications of gastroenteritis (OR = 4.474, 95%CI = 1.733–11.554, P = 0.002), longer hospital stay (OR = 1.109, 95%CI = 1.012–1.217, P = 0.027), longer days of fever after admission (OR = 1.215 95%CI = 1.006–1.469, P = 0.043), elevated white blood cell count (OR = 1.332 95%CI = 1.082–1.640, P = 0.007), decreased neutrophil count (OR = 0.768 95%CI = 0.602–0.981, P = 0.035), higher fibrinogen levels (OR = 1.652 95%CI = 1.138–2.398, P = 0.008), and raised lactate dehydrogenase levels (OR = 1.007 95%CI = 1.003–1.011, P = 0.001).ConclusionsWe determined the clinical significance of respiratory viral coinfection in children with MPP. Timely identification of MPP coinfection and provision of early and comprehensive therapeutic measures are vital in shortening the disease severity and improving prognosis.

Preventing human influenza and coronaviral mono or coinfection by blocking virus-induced sialylation

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) and endemic coronaviruses (eCoVs) are common etiologic agents for seasonal respiratory infections. The human H1N1 of IAV and coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) can result in hospitalization, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even death, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. They infect the epithelium of the respiratory tract by interacting with host cell sialic acid (Sia)- linked receptors whose synthesis is catalyzed by sialyltransferases (STs). Viral coinfection is challenging to treat because of the need to target specific components of two or more distinct pathogens. Emerging drug and vaccine resistance due to the high mutation rate of viral genomes further complicates the treatment and prevention of viral infection. Sialylation mediated by STs may be a potential drug target for treating viral diseases. ST is an attractive target because it could be effective before identifying the pathogen that has occurred, providing a novel direction for overcoming drug resistance and achieving a broad-spectrum antiviral effect. We developed an H1N1 and OC43 mono or coinfection model using 14 days post-plating (14PP) human primary small airway epithelial cells (HSAEC) grown on transwell inserts at an air-fluid interface (ALI), mimicking in vivo cellular dynamics. Using this model, we have observed that mono or coinfection with OC43 and H1N1 results in increased sialic acid levels and synergistic viral infection. We showed for the first time that H1N1 and OC43 mono- and coinfection in HSAEC caused increased expression and activity of STs, which can be blocked by pan-STs inhibitor (3Fax-Peracetyl Neu5Ac) with no host cell toxicity.

Serologic Response to Hepatitis B Vaccination in People Living with HIV in Cali, Colombia

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV coinfection is common, with reported prevalence of up to 20%. This coinfection is associated with an increased risk of chronicity and complications compared with the general population. HBV vaccination is the cornerstone of prevention; however, people living with HIV (PLWH) exhibit a reduce immune response to the vaccine. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and factors associated with the lack of seroconversion after HBV vaccination in PLWH in Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in two HIV outpatient clinics. We included HIV-confirmed adult patients admitted between 2017 and 2020, with no evidence of HBV infection and with under the protective levels of HBV surface antibodies (anti-HBs &lt; 10 IU/ml) on admission, who received at least one dose of HBV vaccine, and had reported anti-HBs post vaccination. The outcome was lack of seroconversion (anti-HBs &lt; 10 IU/ml post vaccination) Results: Of 512 patients screened, 73.8 % (95 % CI: 73.4–74.2) had anti-HBs &lt; 10 IU/ml on admission of whom 224 were included. The incidence of anti-HBs &lt; 10 IU/ml post vaccination was 39.7% (95% CI: 39.5–39.9). Age (aOR 1.03 95% CI: 1-1.05), CD4 count &lt; 200 cells (aOR 7.8 95% CI: 2–29.8), BMI &gt; 30 kg/m2 (aOR 5.1 95% CI: 1.9–14.1), and smoking in females (aOR 6.8 95% CI: 1–81) were risk factors for lack of seroconversion. In contrast, two (aOR 0.2 95% CI: 0.06–0.9) or three (aOR 0.2 95% CI: 0.06–0.6) HBV vaccine doses instead of one were protective. Discussion: A significant proportion of PLWH are eligible for HBV vaccination in Cali. In those who received at least one HBV vaccine dose, the incidence of lack of seroconversion is comparable to reports in Latin America. The factors associated with lack of seroconversion could be considered to adjust the guidelines for HBV vaccination in PLWH in Colombia.

Bayesian hierarchical spatiotemporal modelling of tuberculosis—Human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in Ethiopia

Understanding the epidemiological patterns of tuberculosis-human immunodeficiency virus (TB-HIV) co-infection over space and time is crucial because it assists in identifying areas with high risks that need special control strategies. This article aimed to determine districts in Ethiopia that are most vulnerable to TB-HIV co-infection by examining the spatiotemporal patterns of the co-infection across four years, from 2015 to 2018. The study’s data came from Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Health. The data was analysed by applying the Bayesian hierarchical spatiotemporal modelling. We considered four models with different space–time interaction structures via the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) in the R-INLA package. In addition, we have applied the Deviance Information Criterion to select the most suitable model. The mean raw annual TB-HIV relative risk (RR) continuously decreased from 2015 to 2018, and the raw RRs of co-infection varied over districts and years. The spatiotemporal model, which allows for space–time interaction with independent spatial random effect and dependent temporal random effect, was the preferred model for describing the variations in TB-HIV co-infection across different districts over time. The prior variance for the spatial structured random effect had a smaller precision mode than the spatial unstructured random effect. This difference reveals that the former accounted for more spatial autocorrelation than the latter, indicating an information-borrowing effect amongst districts. Furthermore, the findings exhibit that the relative risk of TB-HIV co-infection had significant spatiotemporal variation and clustering. Through this research, further information was obtained regarding the temporal evolution of the geographical spread of TB and HIV co-infection at the district level in the country. It also made it possible to determine districts that should receive priority for control actions because of their high risk of co-infection.

Pediatric RSV infection and respiratory coinfections: Is a link related to clinical severity? Single center retrospective study

PurposeThe aim of the study was to assess whether there was a difference in terms of severity in paediatric patients assessed for respiratory symptoms in paediatric emergency departments between those who tested positive for RSV and those who presented with viral co-infections in addition to RSV. It was also assessed whether there was a difference between the two groups in terms of need for hospitalisation and ventilation. MethodsThis is a single center study from October 2022 to February 2023, compared two groups of patients: those infected with RSV and those coinfected with RSV and other viruses. Parameters examined included the severity of illness, as measured by the Clinical Respiratory Score (CRS), the need for and duration of hospitalization, and the need for ventilation via high flow nasal cannula (HFNC). ResultsThe correlation with disease severity assessed by CRS in the two groups with RSV only and coinfection was not statistically significant (p-value 0.281). The correlation in the two groups between the need for hospitalization (p-value 1) and the need for ventilation (p-value 0.302) was also not significant. No significant correlation was found between the age of patients and CRS (R = −0.26, p = 0.119) and the age of patients and days of hospitalization (R = −0.013, p = 0.938). ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of careful management of RSV infections in children. Despite the limitations, the lack of significant differences in disease severity indicates the need to explore additional preventive strategies, such as RSV vaccination, to improve the clinical approach.

Respiratory Viral Co-infection in SARS-CoV-2-Infected Children During the Early and Late Pandemic Periods

Background: Knowledge regarding the impact of respiratory pathogen co-infection in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected children seeking emergency department care is limited, specifically as it relates to the association between SARS-CoV-2 viral co-infection and disease severity and factors associated with co-infection. Methods: This secondary analysis included data from 2 prospective cohort studies conducted between March 2020 and February 2022 that included children &lt;18 years of age tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection along with additional respiratory viruses in a participating emergency department. Outcomes included the detection rate of other respiratory viruses and the occurrence of severe outcomes (ie, intensive interventions, severe organ impairment and death). Results: We included 2520 participants, of whom 388 (15.4%) were SARS-CoV-2-positive. Detection of additional respiratory viruses occurred in 18.3% (71/388) of SARS-CoV-2-positive children, with rhinovirus/enterovirus being most frequently detected (42/388; 10.8%). In multivariable analyses (adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval), among SARS-CoV-2-positive children, detection of another respiratory virus was not associated with severe outcomes [1.74 (0.80–3.79)], but detection of rhinovirus/enterovirus [vs. isolated SARS-CoV-2 detection 3.56 (1.49–8.51)] and having any preexisting chronic medical condition [2.15 (1.06–4.36)] were associated with severe outcomes. Among SARS-CoV-2-positive children, characteristics independently associated with an increased odds of any other viral co-infection included: age and delta variant infection. Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 5 children infected with SARS-CoV-2 had co-infection with another respiratory virus, and co-infection with rhinovirus/enterovirus was associated with severe outcomes. When public health restrictions were relaxed, co-infections increased.

Burden of liver steatosis and liver fibrosis in a large cohort of people living with HIV.

Liver steatosis (LS) and liver fibrosis (LF) can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with HIV, but their prevalence and associated factors are poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with LS and LF in a large cohort of people with HIV. We conducted a cross-sectional study of consecutive people with HIV attending the Clinic of Barcelona from September 2022 to September 2023, excluding those with chronic B or/and C hepatitis virus coinfection. LS was assessed using the Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI) and Fatty Liver Index (FLI), and LF was assessed using the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Fibrosis Score (NFS), Fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4), and the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) algorithm in both the whole cohort (cohort 1) and in a specific cohort more susceptible to liver disease (cohort 2). We identified independent variables associated with LS and LF using logistic regression. Cohort 1 included 4664 people with HIV; 76% and 37% of them had available HSI and FLI data, LS was present in 28% and 19%, respectively. LF risk was present in 1%, 2%, and 1% of people with HIV according to NFS, FIB-4, and EACS algorithm scores, respectively. Cohort 2 included 1345 people with HIV; 60% and 30% of them had available HSI and FLI data, LS affected 55% and 43% and LF 2%, 5%, or 3%, respectively. Factors associated with LS included current CD4 cell count, diabetes, and hypertension, whereas LF was associated with previous exposure to dideoxynucleoside drugs and current CD4 to LF. Current integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) therapy appeared protective for LF in cohort 1. In this study, one in four people with HIV had LS, and the prevalence rose to one in two in those with cardiovascular risk factors. The prevalence of LF was low, but it should be considered in older people with HIV with low CD4 counts or high aspartate transaminase levels. A possible protective effect from INSTIs deserves further investigation.

Hyers - Ulam Stability of Ebola and Nipah Virus Co-infection Fractional Dynamics

Hyers - Ulam Stability of Ebola and Nipah Virus Co-infection Fractional Dynamics

Exploration of common pathogenesis and candidate hub genes between HIV and monkeypox co-infection using bioinformatics and machine learning

This study explored the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and monkeypox co-infection, identifying candidate hub genes and potential drugs using bioinformatics and machine learning. Datasets for HIV (GSE 37250) and monkeypox (GSE 24125) were obtained from the GEO database. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in co-infection were identified by intersecting DEGs from monkeypox datasets with genes from key HIV modules screened using Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). After gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, candidate hub genes were further screened based on machine learning algorithms. Transcriptional factors (TFs) and miRNA-candidate hub gene networks were constructed to understand regulatory mechanisms and protein-drug interactions to identify potential therapeutic drugs. Seven candidate hub genes—MX2, ADAR, POLR2H, RPL5, IFI16, IFIT2, and RPS5—were identified. TFs and miRNAs associated with these hub genes, playing a key role in regulating viral infection and inflammation due to the activation of antiviral innate immunity, were also identified through network analysis. Potential therapeutic drugs were screened based on these hub genes: AZT, a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor, suppressed viral replication in HIV and monkeypox co-infection, while mefloquine inhibited inflammation due to the activation of antiviral innate immunity. In conclusion, the study identified candidate hub genes, their transcriptional regulation, signaling pathways, and small-molecule drugs in HIV and monkeypox co-infection, contributing to understanding the pathogenesis of HIV and monkeypox co-infection and informing precise therapeutic strategies.

Current management and awareness of hepatitis coinfection in HIV care: A single-center retrospective study in Japan

BackgroundLiver disease remains a significant concern for people living with HIV (PLWH), especially in those with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection. This study assessed the prevalence of viral hepatitis coinfections and evaluated the current state of hepatitis management by HIV care providers in Japan. MethodsThis single-center, retrospective, observational study analyzed data from PLWH treated with antiretroviral therapy between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. Data included demographics, ART regimen, hepatitis status, and screening practices of 811 PLWH treated with antiretroviral therapy. ResultsThe median age of the study population was 48 years, and 97.8 % were men. The HBV status was as follows: chronic HBV, 6.5 %; clinical remission, 34.0 %; uninfected, 30.9 %; unknown, 14.2 %. The HCV antibody positivity rate was 3.2 %. Substantial gaps in hepatitis screening and monitoring were identified. Specifically, we found inadequate rates of abdominal ultrasound examinations and HCC screening among patients with HIV and viral hepatitis coinfection. Moreover, only 71.7 % of patients chronically infected with HBV and 61.5 % with HCV underwent abdominal ultrasound examinations in the preceding 12 months—only 5.7 % and 3.8 % of the participants in these groups had had received tumor marker testing in the previous 12 months. ConclusionThere are challenges in hepatitis and HCC screening and monitoring among patients with HIV and viral hepatitis coinfection in Japan. These findings underscore the need to improve adherence to clinical practice guidelines and implement integrated care models to enhance hepatitis management in PLWH.

Viral Loads of Pneumoviruses: Correlation With Coinfection Rates and Disease Severity.

We looked at the interactions between viral loads, coinfection rates and disease severity for children infected with two pneumoviruses: human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The HMPV RNA load in nasopharyngeal swabs of hospitalized children was significantly higher in mono-infections compared to coinfections but this was not the case for RSV, which could be explained by different innate immune responses. Also, the viral load of neither of the two viruses was associated with disease severity although RSV-infected children had higher severity scores than HMPV-infected children.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Findings in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) from Southern Brazil

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a retrovirus affecting domestic cats worldwide and causing immunosuppression and reduced quality of life. The prevalence of FIV infection varies according to geographic regions / countries and it is associated with domestic cat health managements (vaccination, neutering, basic health care, etc.). This study aimed to evaluate prevalence, risk factors and some clinical information of FIV infection in a domestic cat population in southern Brazil. A total of 366 cats from ten different veterinary facilities and 43 neighborhoods located in the city of Caxias do Sul were sampled for this study. Each animal was examined by a clinical veterinarian and blood was collected for laboratory analysis. Blood samples were tested with a point-of-care (POC) assay to detect FIV antibodies and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect and quantify FIV proviral DNA. The results demonstrated an overall prevalence of 7.1% (n=26; 95% CI = 4.9% – 10.2%) of FIV infection. FIV-positive cats demonstrated undetectable (n=6; 23.1%) and detectable (n=20; 76.9%) proviral DNA, with loads varying from less than 10 (101) to 4,460,000 (106.6) with a mean of 480,000 (105.7) copies/mL. FIV-positive cats were significantly older (median age of 7 years), also presenting outdoor access (OR: 5.0, p=0.046), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) coinfection (OR: 7.1, p<0.001) and other chronic diseases (OR: 4.1, p=0.34) as main risk factors. FIV-positive animals presented a 9.9- and 7.6-times higher risk for developing lymphoma and anemia in the multivariate analysis. This study contributes to assess some important epidemiological aspects of FIV infection in cats in southern Brazil, highlighting the strong association of FIV and FeLV coinfection.