No abstract

We studied evidence of Bartonella henselae andBartonella clarridgeiae infection in 54 cats living in Jakarta, Indonesia. By using an indirect immunofluorescence assay, we found immunoglobulin G antibody to B. henselae in 40 of 74 cats (54%). The blood of 14 feral cats was cultured on rabbit blood agar plates for 28 days. Bartonella-like colonies were identified as B. henselae or B. clarridgeiae by using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing of the PCR amplicons. Of the cats sampled in the study, 6 of 14 (43%; all feral) were culture positive for B. henselae; 3 of 14 (21%; 2 feral and 1 pet) culture positive for B. clarridgeiae. This is the first report that documents B. henselae andB. clarridgeiae infections in Indonesian cats.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the susceptibility of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) to hepatitis A virus, but have not shown an association between infection and histopathological or chemical evidence of liver disease. Therefore, 12 seronegative, colony-bred monkeys were inoculated intravenously with a fecal suspension containing either PA33 strain hepatitis A virus (a strain recovered from a naturally infected Aotus sp.) or HM-175 virus (recovered from a human). Viral antigen was detected by radioimmunoassay in the feces of six monkeys 6 to 17 days after inoculation with PA33 virus, and by 9 to 21 days serum aminotransferase activities were significantly elevated in each. Antibody to the virus developed in each monkey by 28 days after inoculation. Similar findings were noted in five of six monkeys inoculated with HM-175 virus, although the incubation period preceding aminotransferase elevations was somewhat longer (25 to 39 days). Liver biopsies obtained from the 11 infected monkeys demonstrated mild to moderate portal inflammation, as well as random areas of focal necrosis and inflammation extending outward from the portal region. These data confirm the susceptibility of Aotus sp. to hepatitis A virus and indicate that the infection of this primate provides a useful animal model of human hepatitis A.

No abstract

The genetic subtypes of HIV-1 in the Sudan epidemic have not been characterized. Here we report the partial sequencing and analysis of 30 strains collected from HIV-1-positive patients and blood donors in Khartoum in 1998 and 1999. From analysis of partial pol and env sequences, it was determined that 50% were subtype D and 30% were subtype C. Of interest, some subtype D clustered with those from East Africa whereas others joined subtype D from West Africa. Subtype A, subtype B, and three unique recombinants were also found, some partially unclassifiable. One unclassified strain matched another reported previously from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sudan borders nine other African countries, and has suffered more than 20 years of civil strife with large population displacements. The intermixing of HIV-1 subtypes previously separated in Africa may be occurring there, with the potential to generate novel new strains by recombination.