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Lopes A

Characterization of an insect-specific flavivirus (OCFVPT) co-isolated from Ochlerotatus caspius collected in southern Portugal along with a putative new Negev-like virus

We describe the isolation and characterization of an insect-specific flavivirus (ISF) from Ochlerotatus caspius (Pallas, 1771) mosquitoes collected in southern Portugal. The RNA genome of this virus, tentatively designated OCFVPT, for O. caspius flavivirus from Portugal, encodes a polyprotein showing all the features expected for a flavivirus. As frequently observed for ISF, the viral genomes seems to encode a putative Fairly Interesting Flavivirus ORF (FIFO)-like product, the synthesis of which would occur as a result of a -1 translation frameshift event. OCFVPT was isolated in the C6/36 Stegomyia albopicta (= Aedes albopictus) cell line where it replicates rapidly, but failed to replicate in Vero cells in common with other ISFs.
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A divergent insect-specific flavivirus that causes overt cytopathic effect in a mosquito cell-line

This work reports the initial characterization, including near full-length sequence analysis, of an ISF which seems to form a divergent lineage within the ISF radiation, as indicated by phylogenetic analysis based on ac multiple sequence alignment of the NS5 flavivirus coding sequence.
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Cell phenotypic change due to Cryptosporidium parvum infection in immunocompetent mice

Cryptosporidium parvum is an intracellular parasite causing enteritis which can become life-threatening in immunocompromised host. Immunoregulatory T cells play a central role in the regulatory network of the host. Here, we proposed to characterize the populations of immune cells during infection and reinfection with C. parvum. Four-week-old BALB/C mice were inoculated with oocysts of C. parvum at days 0 and 22.
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Genetic characterization of an insect-specific flavivirus isolated from Culex theileri mosquitoes collected in southern Portugal.

We describe the full genetic characterization of an insect-specific flavivirus (ISF) from Culex theileri (Theobald) mosquitoes collected in Portugal. This represents the first isolation and full characterization of an ISF from Portuguese mosquitoes. The virus, designated CTFV, for Culex theileri flavivirus, was isolated in the C6/36 Stegomyia albopicta (=Aedes albopictus) cell line, and failed to replicate in vertebrate (Vero) cells in common with other ISFs.
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Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus and syphilis among indi- viduals attending anonymous testing for HIV in Luanda, Angola

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis remain major infections around the world. In Angola there are about 166 000 individuals living with HIV, representing a prevalence of 1.98% in adults between 15 and 49 years of age. In a 2003 study in Luanda, 4.5% of pregnant women had antibodies to HIV and 8.1% to HBV, and 5.4% were infected with Treponema pallidum.
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Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus and syphilis among individuals attending anonymous testing for HIV in Luanda, Angola

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis remain major infections around the world. In Angola there are about 166 000 individuals living with HIV, representing a prevalence of 1.98% in adults between 15 and 49 years of age. In a 2003 study in Luanda, 4.5% of pregnant women had antibodies to HIV and 8.1% to HBV, and 5.4% were infected with Treponema pallidum.
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High rate of detection of G8P 6 rotavirus in children with acute gastroenteritis in Sao Tome, and Principe

The burden of rotavirus infections greatly affects the low-income African countries. In the absence of epidemiological data on pediatric diarrhea in São Tomé and Príncipe (STP), a study was conducted from August to December 2011.
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Negeviruses found in multiple species of mosquitoes from southern Portugal: Isolation, genetic diversity, and replication in insect cell culture

In this report, an RT-PCR approach based on the use of degenerate primers allowed the identification of negeviruses in four different species of mosquitoes (Ochlerotatus caspius, Culex pipiens, Cx. theileri and Cx. univittatus) collected in southern Portugal. The genomes of two of these viruses, sequenced to full completion, were shown to encode all the proteins encoded by previously described negeviruses
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Dengue virus serotype 4 and chikungunya virus coinfection in a traveller returning from Luanda, Angola

concurrent dengue virus serotype 4 and chikungunya virus infection was detected in a woman in her early 50s returning to Portugal from Luanda, Angola, in January 2014. The clinical, laboratory and molecular findings, involving phylogenetic analyses of partial viral genomic sequences amplified by RT-PCR, are described.
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Evaluation of an Immunochromatographic Point-of-Care Test for the Simultaneous Detection of Nontreponemal and Treponemal Antibodies in Patients With Syphilis

We described the evaluation of the Syphilis Screening & Confirm Assay for the simultaneous detection of nontreponemal and treponemal antibodies. A total of 248 samples were evaluated. The sensitivity of the tests was 98.8%, 99.5% and 98.9%, while specificity was 94.7%, 88.9% and 93.2%, respectively, as compared with the rapid plasma reagin, Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay, and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption tests.
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