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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were examined from 7 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) who had progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Samples were obtained both before and after 35-365 days of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). By polymerase chain reaction, JC virus (JCV) DNA was found in 6 of 7 patients at baseline but in only 1 patient after HAART. In contrast, in 25 historical control patients from whom sequential CSF specimens were obtained, no reversion from detectable to undetectable JCV DNA was observed. By use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, intrathecal production of antibody to JCV-VP1 was shown in only 1 of 4 HAART recipients at baseline but in 5 of 5 patients after treatment. The neuroradiological picture improved or had stabilized in all patients after 12 months of HAART, and all were alive after a median of 646 days (range, 505-775 days). Prolonged survival after HAART for PML is associated with JCV clearance from CSF. JCV-specific humoral intrathecal immunity may play a role in this response.

Polyomavirus JC (JCPyV) is largely excreted by the human population through the urinary route and has been recognized as a potential viral marker for human waste contamination. This study aims to investigate the dissemination of JCPyV in waste water from a sewage treatment plant (STP) located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to describe the prevalence of JCPyV subtypes currently present in this population. Raw and treated sewage samples were collected bimonthly during one year, and examined for the presence of JCPyV using nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). JCPyV was detected by nPCR in 96% and 43% of raw and treated sewage samples, respectively. The concentration of JCPyV present in the samples ranged from 1.2 £ 10 3 to 3.2 £ 10 5 and 2.6 £ 10 2 to 6.2 £ 10 3 genome copies per 2 ml of concentrated raw and treated sewage sample, respectively. The strains were characterized and the obtained nucleotide sequences indicated that the detected JCPyV strains clustered with subtypes of East African, West African and European origin. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing the incidence and diversity of JCPyV strains in raw and treated sewage in Brazil.

Coinfection with HTLV-I was strongly associated with myelopathy among subjects infected with HIV. The relative contribution of HTLV-I versus HIV in the pathogenesis of coinfection-associated myelopathy is not known. Coinfection may also be associated with peripheral neuropathy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of coinfection-associated neurologic conditions.

SUMMARY -Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 17 patients with HAM/TSP (HTLV-I associated myelopathy/ tropical spastic paraparesis), six with multiple sclerosis and six with idiopathic epilepsy (non inflammatory control) from Brazil were analysed for the presence of intrathecal synthesis of virus-specific antibodies against measles, rubella, varicella zoster virus and herpes simplex virus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All HAM/TSP and multiple sclerosis cases had an intrathecal immune response (oligoclonal IgG). In HAM/TSP, only 1/17 case showed a polyspecific intrathecal immune response against measles and rubella virus. In multiple sclerosis, specific antibodies against measles and rubella (MRZ response) were observed in all patients but not in the control with idiopathic epilepsy. The diagnostic and theoretical relevance of mono-and polyspecific immune responses is discussed for these chronic neurological diseases. KEY WORDS: HTLV-I, HAM/TSP, cerebrospinal fluid, antibody indexValor da análise do LCR para o diagnóstico diferencial de mielopatia associada ao HTLV-I e esclerose múltipla RESUMO -Amostras de líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) e soro de 17 pacientes brasileiros com HAM/TSP, seis com esclerose múltipla e seis com epilepsia idiopática (controle não-inflamatório) foram analisadas para a presença de anticorpos para os vírus do sarampo, rubéola, varicela zoster e herpes simples pelo método de ELISA. Todos os casos de HAM/TSP e esclerose múltipla tinham resposta imune intratecal (IgG oligoclonal). Somente 1/17 casos de HAM/TSP apresentavam resposta imune poliespecifica intratecal para sarampo e rubéola. Anticorpos específicos para sarampo e rubeola (resposta MRZ) foram observados em todos os pacientes com esclerose múltipla, mas não nos controles com epilepsia idiopática. A relevância das respostas poliespecifica e monoespecifica é discutida para essas doenças neurológicas crônicas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: HTLV-I, HAM/TSP, líquido cefalorraquidiano, índice de anticorpos.The sensitive detection of intrathecally synthesized antibodies increased the relevance of CSF analysis for diagnosis of neurological diseases 17 . The sucessful concepts for discrimination of blood derived and brain derived CSF fractions 16 of immunoglobulin could be extended to the detection of brain defined specific antibodies exceeding the theoretical upper concentration of blood derived antibody species in CSF. An immune response against virus antigens within the central nervous system (CNS) has been demonstrated in different neurological diseases 1 " 4 -6,7 . This reaction may be