title: Molecular diagnosis of central nervous system opportunistic infections in HIV-infected Zambian adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowledge of central nervous system (CNS) opportunistic infections (OIs) among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 1 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample from each of 331 HIV-infected adults with symptoms suggestive of CNS OI at a tertiary care center in Zambia. We used pathogen-specific primers to detect DNA from JC virus (JCV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Toxoplasma gondii via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' median CD4(+) T-cell count was 89 cells/µL (interquartile range, 38-191 cells/µL). Of 331 CSF samples, 189 (57.1%) had at least 1 pathogen. PCR detected DNA from EBV in 91 (27.5%) patients, M. tuberculosis in 48 (14.5%), JCV in 20 (6.0%), CMV in 20 (6.0%), VZV in 13 (3.9%), HSV-1 in 5 (1.5%), and HSV-2 and T. gondii in none. Fungal and bacteriological studies showed Cryptococcus in 64 (19.5%) patients, pneumococcus in 8 (2.4%), and meningococcus in 2 (0.6%). Multiple pathogens were found in 68 of 189 (36.0%) samples. One hundred seventeen of 331 (35.3%) inpatients died during their hospitalization. Men were older than women (median, 37 vs 34 years; P = .01), more recently diagnosed with HIV (median, 30 vs 63 days; P = .03), and tended to have a higher mortality rate (40.2% vs 30.2%; P = .07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CNS OIs are frequent, potentially treatable complications of AIDS in Zambia. Multiple pathogens often coexist in CSF. EBV is the most prevalent CNS organism in isolation and in coinfection. Whether it is associated with CNS disease or a marker of inflammation requires further investigation. More comprehensive testing for CNS pathogens could improve treatment and patient outcomes in Zambia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro-Virology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka.
authors.forename: Omar K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Siddiqi
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School and Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, Boston.
authors.forename: Musie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghebremichael
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro-Virology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka.
authors.forename: Masharip
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atadzhanov
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaonga
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro-Virology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro-Virology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Igor J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Koralnik
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics; D012640:Seizures / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D015024:Zambia
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004247:DNA
keywords: HIV; PCR; Zambia; cerebrospinal fluid; opportunistic infections