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Addis Ababa University Libraries Electronic Thesis and Dissertations: AAU-ETD! >
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Thesis - Medical Microbiology >
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http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/569
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| Title: | LEVELS OF PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN THE CERVICOVAGINAL SECRETIONS AMONG HIV POSITIVE WOMEN WITH OR WITHOUT OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES |
| Authors: | Iibrahim, Ali |
| Advisors: | Dr. Yohannes Mengistu |
| Keywords: | Pro-inflammatory cytokines
Viral load
HIV
Cervicovaginal lavage fluid
Sexually transmitted disease
IL-8
TNF-a |
| Copyright: | 2003 |
| Date Added: | 17-Apr-2008 |
| Publisher: | Addis Ababa University |
| Abstract: | Pro-inflammatory cytokines may stimulate local replication and spread of HIV. To determine
the association between cytokines ,viral shedding in vaginal secretions and other sexually
transmitted infections ,the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-a and IL-8) and viral
load in CVL fluids were determined. Cervicovaginal lavag fluid samples were collected from
80 consecutive women complaining active sexually transmitted infections in Tekle-Haymanot
Health Center, Addis Ababa. Sixty-one (76%) were found HIV infected and 19 (24%) were
seronegative. STDs were identified from 49 of the 61(80%) HIV infected women and 68 (85
%) of the total study subjects. CVL was assayed for tumor necrosis factor- (TNF- ) , IL-8
,and viral load. Detectable level of TNF- and IL-8 were found in all samples. TNF- ranged
between 9.8 and 397 pg/ml with a median 136 pg/ml. Interleukin-8 levels ranged from 28.5 to
137 pg/ml with median 67.47 pg/ml. Viral load was detectable in CVL fluids from 37(61%)
and undetectable in 24 (39%) of HIV positive women. Higher levels of TNF- were found in
women with STD when compared with STD negative women, a median 144 pg/ml and 93.6
pg/ml respectively ,although the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).Viral
load in STIs positive women were also found to be higher than STIs negative women CVL
fluids ,the difference was found statistically significant (p< 0.05). In CVL fluids with
detectable viral load, TNF- levels were found significantly higher than did undetectable
viral load (p < 0.05). TNF- value was also found positively correlated with viral load
(p<0.01 ,r = 0.338). Higher level of IL-8 was detected in HIV negative women than HIV
positive women, the difference was found statistically significant (p < 0.05). IL-8 level was
also found elevated in STIs positive women not infected with HIV than HIV positive women
co-infected with STIs (p < 0.05). However, statistically significant difference was not found
in CVL IL-8 levels between STDs positive and negative groups as well as in CVL fluids with
detectable and undetectable viral load. Viral shedding in cervicovaginal fluid of HIV infected
viii
women was also significantly associated with co-infection with other sexually transmitted
infections (p < 0.01). From this result ,it is possible to infer that higher levels of these proinflammatory
cytokines in CVL fluids of HIV positive and negative women co-infected with
other STIs likely influence local replication and shedding of HIV in female genital tract and
may also have impact on acquisition and transmission of the virus. Female genital secretions
is the main vehicle for sexual transmission of HIV virus ,thus implementation of effective STIs
prevention and control programs are important to reduce the risk of HIV infection. |
| Description: | A thesis submitted to School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Medical Microbiology.
Department of Microbiology , Immunology ,and Prasitology , Faculty of Medicine. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/569 |
| Appears in: | Thesis - Medical Microbiology
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