Serological, virological, and polymerase chain reaction studies of HIV type 1 and HIV type 2 infections in Ghanaian patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex

Comparative in vitro effects of AZT and extracts of Ocimum gratissimum, Ficus polita, Clausena anisata, Alchornea cordifolia, and Elaeophorbia drupifera against HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections

The effects of Ocimum gratissimum (GHX-2), Ficus polita (GHX-6), Clausena anisata (GHX-7), Alchornea cordifolia (GHX-26), Elaeophorbia drupifera (GHX-27), and AZT on in vitro HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication and cytopathicity were compared. All plant extracts inhibited HIV-1 strain HTLVIII(B) cytopathicity, the leaves of GHX-2 and the seeds of GHX-26 having high antiviral indices (110 and 90, respectively). Against HIV-2 strain GH1, the EC(50) values ranged from <0.005 to 0.075 mg/ml when treatment was started at 40min after virus adsorption, except for GHX-7 which showed only moderate activity and GHX-26 which had no activity. When treatment was delayed for 2h, the plant extracts, unlike AZT, were still very effective against HIV-2. Likewise, only the plant extracts were able to attain EC(90) values when high multiplicity of infection (MOI) with HIV-1 strain GH3 was used when treatment was delayed for 2h. In Molt-4 cocultures with Molt-4/HIV, early cytopathic effect (CPE) of cell fusion was unaffected by AZT but was completely inhibited by all plants at noncytotoxic concentrations. In addition, GHX-27 was selectively toxic to Molt-4/HIV cells. The plant extracts also inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) activity at EC(50) values of <0.01-0.03 mg/ml. HIV-1 proviral DNA copying as determined in a polymerase chain reaction, was completely inhibited by GHX-2 and GHX-6 at 0.011 and 0.015 mg/ml, respectively. GHX-26 and GHX-27 showed only very moderate activity.

HIV-1 and HIV-2 seroprevalence and risk factors among hospital outpatients in the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa

A cross-sectional study of 854 outpatients seen at three hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa assessed HIV-1 and HIV-2 seroprevalence rates and associated risk factors. During mid-1999, patients were tested in an anonymous study linked to a questionnaire and abstracted record data in three distinct communities with differing levels of urbanization. Combined HIV seroprevalence rates were 19.2% for Agomanya, the most rural community, 5.1% for Akwatia, and 3.4% for Nkawkaw, the most urbanized community. HIV-1 infection alone accounted for 84.5% of cases, compared with 9.5% and 6.0% for HIV-2 and dual infection, respectively. In a multivariable model, the Agomanya location was significantly associated with HIV status (odds ratio [OR], 7.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9-20.1; p <.0001). Employed people were also more likely to be infected (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.02-18.3; p =.047). Among prenatal patients, those from Agomanya were more likely to report no live-in partner or spouse compared with Nkawkaw and Akwatia (p <.0001). These findings suggest sexual partner exchange patterns may be more useful in explaining HIV seroprevalence rates than level of community urbanization. Intervention programs directed at these high risk populations for HIV infection in Ghana are urgently needed.