Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Toxoplasmosis01:28

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV01:26

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV

Tuberculosis, more commonly referred to as TB, is an infectious disease stemming from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it primarily impacts the lungs, TB can also affect other body areas. Given its severity and global impact, timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for controlling its spread and improving patient outcomes.
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cost analysis of implementing community-based mass drug administration for schistosomiasis control among adult individuals using community drug distributors in Ukerewe district council, North-Western Tanzania.

PLoS neglected tropical diseases·2026
Same author

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in Non-Immune Hydrops fetalis - a registry-based data analysis over the last 25 years.

European journal of pediatrics·2026
Same author

Establishing an Endoscopy Unit for Management of <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> Hepatosplenic Morbidities in Northwestern Tanzania.

Endoscopy international open·2026
Same author

The next step towards lower complication rates in fetal therapy for congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
Same author

Perioperative discontinuation of SGLT2-inhibitors and cardiac complications after noncardiac surgery: secondary analysis of two prospective observational cohort studies.

British journal of anaesthesia·2026
Same author

Surgical and clinical predictors of successful Hartmann reversal procedure after perforated diverticulitis.

Surgical endoscopy·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Comprehensive &amp; Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
23:56

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model

Published on: October 31, 2010

Low CD4 count plus coma predicts cryptococcal meningitis in Tanzania.

Peter R Kisenge1, Alexander T Hawkins, Venance P Maro

  • 1Department of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania. pkisenge@yahoo.com <pkisenge@yahoo.com>

BMC Infectious Diseases
|May 12, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Cryptococcal meningitis is common in Tanzanian HIV patients. Early diagnosis requires laboratory testing, as clinical signs alone are insufficient for accurate prognosis or diagnosis.

More Related Videos

An In Vitro Model for Measuring Immune Responses to Malaria in the Context of HIV Co-infection
08:14

An In Vitro Model for Measuring Immune Responses to Malaria in the Context of HIV Co-infection

Published on: October 6, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Comprehensive &amp; Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
23:56

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model

Published on: October 31, 2010

An In Vitro Model for Measuring Immune Responses to Malaria in the Context of HIV Co-infection
08:14

An In Vitro Model for Measuring Immune Responses to Malaria in the Context of HIV Co-infection

Published on: October 6, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cryptococcal meningitis prevalence and presentation in Tanzania are poorly understood due to limited diagnostic tools.
  • This lack of understanding hinders the effectiveness of fluconazole, an available treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic markers, and outcomes of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-infected adults in Tanzania.
  • To assess the diagnostic utility of clinical signs and CD4 count for cryptococcal meningitis.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 149 HIV-infected adult inpatients with headache or altered mental status was studied.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analyzed using India ink and latex agglutination assays.
  • Statistical methods were used to evaluate associations between clinical features and cryptococcal meningitis, determining sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios.

Main Results:

  • Cryptococcal meningitis was linked to confusion, seizures, fever, tachycardia, meningismus, oral candidiasis, low Glasgow Coma Scale, and low CD4 counts.
  • CD4 count < 100/µL showed 93% sensitivity; coma (GCS ≤ 8) had 84% specificity.
  • While 50% of patients receiving high-dose fluconazole survived, no clinical or laboratory factors predicted prognosis.

Conclusions:

  • Cryptococcal meningitis is a significant issue among HIV-infected inpatients in Tanzania presenting with neurological symptoms.
  • Clinical features alone are unreliable for diagnosing or predicting prognosis.
  • Enhanced laboratory capacity for cryptococcal antigen testing is crucial to improve patient survival.