These findings provide the first baseline data on dengue seroprevalence in the country. No recent dengue virus circulation in Tanzania and in the Zanzibar archipelago up until the early 1990s is reported.

A multicenter analysis of 57 consecutive human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) was performed, to identify correlates of longer survival. JC virus (JCV) DNA was quantified in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by polymerase chain reaction. Two months after therapy, 4% of the patients without highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and 26% with HAART showed neurologic improvement or stability (P=.03), and 8% and 57%, respectively, reached undetectable JCV DNA levels in the CSF (P=.04). One-year probability of survival was.04 without HAART and.46 with HAART. HAART and lack of neurologic progression 2 months after diagnosis were independently associated with longer survival. Among HAART-treated patients, a baseline JCV DNA <4.7 log, and reaching undetectable levels after therapy predicted longer survival. Survival of AIDS-related PML is improved by HAART when JCV replication is controlled.

Summary γδ T lymphocytes recognize non‐peptidic microbial antigens without antigen processing and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction, representing an early defence mechanism against invading pathogens. As a defective response to non‐peptidic antigens was observed in human immunodeficiency virus‐positive (HIV+) persons, the aims of this study were twofold: to analyse the incidence of γδ T‐cell anergy in HIV+ patients with opportunistic infections/co‐infections (HIV‐OIC), and to investigate the role of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on γδ T‐cell functions. Peripheral γδ T‐cell distribution and in vitro reactivity to a non‐peptidic mycobacterial antigen, isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), were analysed. γδ T‐cell subset distribution was altered more in HIV‐OIC patients than in asymptomatic HIV+ subjects (HIV‐ASY). Specifically, the Vδ2/Vδ1 ratio was inverted as a consequence of a decrease in Vδ2 T‐cell number. Moreover, IPP‐stimulated Vδ2 T cells from the HIV‐OIC group displayed a major defect in interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) production. Interestingly, HAART induced a sustained recovery of naive CD45RA+ and CD62L+ T cells and restored γδ T‐cell function. Accordingly, in vitro CD45RA depletion resulted in γδ T‐cell hyporesponsiveness. Altogether, the incidence of γδ T‐cell anergy was increased in HIV‐OIC patients and dependent on CD45RA helper function. Moreover, HAART was able to restore γδ T‐cell reactivity, extending the immune recovery to non‐peptidic microbial antigens.

The study was aimed to evaluate the malaria over/underdiagnosis and over/underprescription of antimalarial drugs. Between February and March 2007 blood samples were collected from 336 non-severe febrile outpatients attended in two peripheral Tanzanian hospitals. Microscopy and a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) were done locally and the accuracy evaluated by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Plasmodium spp. The testing was performed at National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani (INMI), Rome, Italy. As a result of PCR, we identified 26 malaria cases out of 336 (7.7%) patients. Microscopy and RDT accuracies were 93.5% and 97.6%, respectively. Overprescription and underdiagnosis rates were 29.3% and 30.8%, respectively. On-field training, clinical management of febrile illness, and malaria microscopy in remote settings should be considered.

In AIDS-related PML, cidofovir added to HAART is associated with a more effective control of JCV replication, with improved neurological outcome and survival compared with HAART alone.