The immune response of normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after stimulation with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) antigens plus Leishmania donovani promastigotes in vitro was investigated. HIV-1-antigen stimulation of PBMC did not induce the intracellular accumulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). However, cells stimulated with L. donovani antigens exhibited the production of IL-6 and TNF-alpha, but not IFN-gamma. Furthermore, co-stimulation of PBMC with HIV-1 antigen plus L. donovani resulted in the intracellular accumulation of IL-6 and TNF-alpha comparable to that of cells that were activated with L. donovani antigen alone. Heat-inactivated HIV-1 antigen did not appear to induce or suppress cytokine production by PBMC. However, the same HIV antigens did suppress L. donovani-induced proliferation as well as PPD-induced proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion. Elevated levels of serum cytokines have been demonstrated in patients with HIV infection indicating their role in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated immunosuppression. The results may partially support the idea that the abnormally increased cytokine levels in the sera of HIV-infected subjects is due to the various opportunistic pathogens that these patients contract, rather than a response to HIV antigens. As cytokines have been shown to up-regulate HIV replication, the data suggest a role for opportunistic infections in cytokine-induced transactivation of HIV-1 and disease progression.

Sixty-eight isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli isolated from patients with diarrhoea (n = 630) and controls (n = 220) at Tikur Anbassa Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were serotyped on the basis of the heat-labile (HL) and the heat-stable (HS) antigens, by using 16 and 34 antisera, respectively, for the two methods. With the antisera against heat labile antigens, 89.3% of the C. jejuni and 75% of the C. coli were typable. The HL serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were the most common among the C. jejuni while HL serotypes 1 and 2 were dominant among the C. coli isolates. These serotypes accounted for 63.2% of all isolates. For the heat-stable antigens, 60% of the C. jejuni and 83.3% of the C. coli isolates were typable. The HS serotypes 1, 3, 8, 26 and 34 were most common among the C. jejuni, while serotypes 3 and 8 were dominant among C. coli isolates. This study shows that the most common HL and HS antigens among campylobacter isolates from Ethiopia correspond to the most frequent antigenic types from other parts of the world. A limited number of antisera were sufficient to identify the majority of the isolates.

Acute respiratory infections are primary causes of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. This project was designed to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility of respiratory tract pathogens isolated from children in rural and city areas, and to contribute to the rational choice of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections in children in Ethiopia. Nasopharynx and throat cultures were taken from all children under five years of age in three study areas representing different levels of contact with health care and accessibility to modern drugs, such as antibiotics. In all, 1126 children were cultured. Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were both found in 85-90% of the children, and beta-haemolytic streptococci group A in 12%. The level of antimicrobial resistance was low. None of the 954 strains of H. influenzae were beta-lactamase producers. Pneumococci were susceptible to penicillin. The use of antibiotics was also low; 11 of 1126 children had antibiotics on the day of culture or the day before. The choice of antibiotics was not limited by resistance, and emphasis could be put on low cost, minimizing adverse drug reactions and ecological impact.

No abstract

Dc,pcrrtn7cwt of CIinir.crl Mic'r(Jhio/OgJ' , Kurolinsku Instiiuic, mid Ktrrolinskri Hospitul, Stockholni , Sii~i&n, Dc~purtmmt o / Pucdiutrrc.s und Child Hculth', mid Dr,ptrrtniiw t of Conrmirniiy Houltli', Fur,ultj, of Mdic,ine, mid Dcprrtnrcvit of' Medicul Mic,rohiolo,fy uttd Purusito1o,yy4, Tikur Anhrssu Ho.spitu1. Addis Ahuhrr UniiwsitJr Adch Ahuhu. Eihiopiu, Dopurttmv~t of Intrrtruriontrl Hcwlrli Cure'. Kuro/insku Institute, Stockhofni, Sicwkcvz, Diyxrrtnirnt o / Mrdictrl M i c w h i o l o g~~, (Jnircvsity of Gijtdx)rg, C;iitc'hor-g, S i c w k c w , L)c,purtnicwt of Epi~/cwiology und Hrulrh C'urc Rr.cc~crrch7, Umcu Unii.ivsity, Unied, Swrclen Ringertz S, Muhe L, Krantz I, Hathaway A, Shamebo D, Freij L, Wall S, Kronvall G. Prevalence of potential respiratory disease bacteria in children in Ethiopia. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogcns and use of antibiotics among the children. Acta Pzdiatr 1993;82:843-8. Stockholm. ISSNAcute respiratory infections are primary causes of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. This project was designed to investigatc antimicrobial susceptibility of respiratory tract pathogcns isolated from childrcn in rural and city areas, and to contribute to the rational choice of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections in children in Ethiopia. Nasopharynx and throat cultures were taken from all children under five years of age in three study areas representing different levels of contact with health care and accessibility to modern drugs, such as antibiotics. In-all, 1126 children were cultured. Huemophilus influenzur and Streptococcus pneumonicie yere both found in 85-90% of the children, and beta-haemolytic streptococci group A in 12%. The level of antimicrobial resistance was low. None of the 954 strains of H . irzfiuenzue were beta-lactaniase produccrs. Pneumococci were susceptible to penicillin. The use of antibiotics was also low; 11 of 1 126 children had antibiotics on the day of culture or the day before. The choice of antibiotics was not limitcd by resistance, and emphasis could be put on low cost, minimizing adverse drug rcactions and ccological impact. 0 Anrihiotic. uscrgc~, rintirnicrohid suswptihility, rcJspiratorji truc't in ftUions S Ringerti, Department of' c'linicul Microhioklgl., Kurolimkci Hospital, S-104 01 Stockholm, Skt.e&n 0803-9253