title: [Prevalence of Bartonella spp. seropositivity in human immunodeficiency virus-infected and non infected intravenous drug abusers].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serology is an useful tool in the diagnosis of Bartonella spp. infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seronegative patients. The value of this technique in HIV co-infected individuals is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Bartonella spp. seropositivity among intravenous drugs abusers (IDA), both HIV-infected and non-infected.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective seroepidemiological study was carried out among 241 IDA. One hundred and forty-seven of them were infected with HIV type 1. The titer of serum IgG antibodies against Bartonella spp. were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three (14%) individuals were seropositive for Bartonella spp. Nineteen (13%) seropositive cases were found among HIV carriers and 14 (15%) among HIV uninfected people. No relationship between Bartonella spp. seropositivity and the CD4+ cell counts was found when HIV infected patients were analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have found a similar prevalence of Bartonella spp. seropositivity in HIV-infected and non HIV-infected IDA.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Rivera
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macías
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mira
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pineda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G