Reviewer's report
Title:Correlation between CD4 counts of HIV patients and enteric protozoan in
different seasons - An experience of a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi (India).
Version: 2Date:2 June 2008
Reviewer: Nancy Malla
Reviewer's report:
Comments on the revised manuscript entitled “Correlation of CD4 counts, enteric
protozoan infestation and seasonal variations in AIDS patients- An experience of
a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi (India).
Revised manuscript is suitable for publication in BMC infectious diseases.
However, following points have not been addressed clearly and need
clarification/change.
1. Page 4- Paragraph I: The authors have mentioned that “analysis of seasonal
variation in the occurrence of intestinal protozoan infections was made to help
the clinician in giving an accurate diagnosis to avoid empirical treatment.”
It is not clear that how analysis of seasonal variation will help the clinicians to
formulate treatment strategy. Does authors mean that there is no need of
laboratory diagnosis/confirmation for opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections?
Analysis of seasonal variation has epidemiological significance for prevention
and control of these infections, rather than guiding clinicians in giving an accurate
diagnosis to avoid empirical treatment.
Therefore, it is desired that the sentence should be rewritten.
2. The high percentage of ‘Microsporidium’ observed in this study may be
because only calcoflour while staining is used. There may be false positivite
results.. This point should be included in the discussion, otherwise it may give
false impression.
3. Page 9- Last three lines-
a) Siddhartha et al- Reference is not listed in the Reference list.
b) When compared to other studies of Southern India (References not quoted).
4. Page 11-
Conclusions: should be redrawn.
Line 2: The ‘Seasonal Variation’ should be deleted.
5. There are few typographical errors in the manuscript
e.g. Page 12- Reference 4- Line 2- Isochoric should be Isospora.
Reviewer's report
Title:Correlation between CD4 counts of HIV patients and enteric protozoan in
different seasons - An experience of a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi (India).
Version: 2Date:2 June 2008
Reviewer: Nancy Malla
Reviewer's report:
Comments on the revised manuscript entitled “Correlation of CD4 counts, enteric
protozoan infestation and seasonal variations in AIDS patients- An experience of
a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi (India).
Revised manuscript is suitable for publication in BMC infectious diseases.
However, following points have not been addressed clearly and need
clarification/change.
1. Page 4- Paragraph I: The authors have mentioned that “analysis of seasonal
variation in the occurrence of intestinal protozoan infections was made to help
the clinician in giving an accurate diagnosis to avoid empirical treatment.”
It is not clear that how analysis of seasonal variation will help the clinicians to
formulate treatment strategy. Does authors mean that there is no need of
laboratory diagnosis/confirmation for opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections?
Analysis of seasonal variation has epidemiological significance for prevention
and control of these infections, rather than guiding clinicians in giving an accurate
diagnosis to avoid empirical treatment.
Therefore, it is desired that the sentence should be rewritten.
2. The high percentage of ‘Microsporidium’ observed in this study may be
because only calcoflour while staining is used. There may be false positivite
results.. This point should be included in the discussion, otherwise it may give
false impression.
3. Page 9- Last three lines-
a) Siddhartha et al- Reference is not listed in the Reference list.
b) When compared to other studies of Southern India (References not quoted).
4. Page 11-
Conclusions: should be redrawn.
Line 2: The ‘Seasonal Variation’ should be deleted.
5. There are few typographical errors in the manuscript
e.g. Page 12- Reference 4- Line 2- Isochoric should be Isospora.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Correlation between CD4 counts of HIV patients and enteric protozoan in
different seasons - An experience of a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi (India).
Version: 2Date:2 June 2008
Reviewer: Nancy Malla
Reviewer's report:
Comments on the revised manuscript entitled “Correlation of CD4 counts, enteric
protozoan infestation and seasonal variations in AIDS patients- An experience of
a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi (India).
Revised manuscript is suitable for publication in BMC infectious diseases.
However, following points have not been addressed clearly and need
clarification/change.
1. Page 4- Paragraph I: The authors have mentioned that “analysis of seasonal
variation in the occurrence of intestinal protozoan infections was made to help
the clinician in giving an accurate diagnosis to avoid empirical treatment.”
It is not clear that how analysis of seasonal variation will help the clinicians to
formulate treatment strategy. Does authors mean that there is no need of
laboratory diagnosis/confirmation for opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections?
Analysis of seasonal variation has epidemiological significance for prevention
and control of these infections, rather than guiding clinicians in giving an accurate
diagnosis to avoid empirical treatment.
Therefore, it is desired that the sentence should be rewritten.
2. The high percentage of ‘Microsporidium’ observed in this study may be
because only calcoflour while staining is used. There may be false positivite
results.. This point should be included in the discussion, otherwise it may give
false impression.
3. Page 9- Last three lines-
a) Siddhartha et al- Reference is not listed in the Reference list.
b) When compared to other studies of Southern India (References not quoted).
4. Page 11-
Conclusions: should be redrawn.
Line 2: The ‘Seasonal Variation’ should be deleted.
5. There are few typographical errors in the manuscript
e.g. Page 12- Reference 4- Line 2- Isochoric should be Isospora.
assistant