Seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infections in voluntary and replacement blood donors in a tertiary care hospital blood bank of Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India: 5 years retrospective study

Background: Critical part of transfusion is effective screening of TTI, to reduce the risk of transmission is as safe as possible. The present study has undertaken to focus on seroprevalence of TTIs among both voluntary and replacement donors and also to project epidemiological data of TTIs in this community.Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2014 to December 2018. All blood samples collected from donors were screened for HIV, HBV, HCV, Syphilis and malaria according to blood bank policy. Before drawing blood, donors were asked to fill pre structured Blood bank questionnaire and consent form.Results: In this present 5-year study, total number of blood donor population was 54937, among them voluntary donors were 33891 and replacement donors were 21046. Out of 33891 voluntary donors, 33486(98.8%) were males and remaining 405(1.19%) were females. All replacement donors (21046) were males. The seroprevalence of HBV was highest, 1.82% (1003/54937) followed by HCV 0.31% (175/54937) in all the donors. The seropositivity for HIV is 0.23% (129/54937), for syphilis 0.04% (24/54937) and for malaria 0.01% (6/54937).Conclusions: National blood transfusion policy should be strengthening the standards and quality of screening across the country. For blood screening, resources and appropriate screening assays must be available at all health centres

Seroprevalence of HIV in blood donors at tertiary care center, M.Y.H. Indore, India

Background: Transfusion of blood has become an important mode of transmission of infections such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B to the recipients. Blood transfusion is a boon in medical era if properly screened. The aim of study was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV donors in blood bank at M.Y.H. Indore.Methods: The study was conducted in the blood bank, M.Y.H. Hospital, Indore. Total 115775 donors attending blood bank were included in the study. All the donor samples were screened for detection of antibodies for human immunodeficiency virus by microwell Enzyme Linked Immunosorption Assay (ELISA) method. The seroprevalence of HIV infection among the donors was determined over a period of five years since January 2013 to December 2017.Results: Total 115775 blood donors were recorded. Out of total 115775 blood donors included in the study, replacement donor were 10766 (9.29%) while voluntary donor were 105009 (90.70%). In the duration of five-year study period, total 80 cases (0.06%) were reactive to HIV. Out of total 115775 blood donors included in the study, maximum cases i.e. 22 (0.08%) cases were found to be positive for HIV infection in year 2017. Out of 10766 replacement donors included in the study, 64 cases (0.59%) were reactive to HIV infection. While out of 105009 voluntary donors, 16 cases (0.01%) were found to be reactive to HIV infection. Voluntary donors are more as compared to the replacement donors. Number of HIV positive patients were found to more in replacement donor as compared to the voluntary donors.Conclusions: The seroprevalence of HIV is low in this study and hence it is concluded that the more the number of voluntary donors, the less the number of HIV positive cases. Voluntary donors can be motivated by proper health education and high quality screening programs

Seroprevalence of markers of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital blood bank: a 5 year retrospective study

 Background: Transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) can be caused by various microorganisms present in the blood of apparently healthy donors. The recipient may get infected after being transfused with the unsafe blood. It is mandatory to screen the blood for HIV 1 and 2, HBV, HCV, Syphilis and Malaria. This study was undertaken to investigate the seroprevalance of Transfusion transmitted infections among blood donors at our tertiary care centre and to compare our study with other studies conducted at different hospitals of the country as well as outside.Methods: A retrospective review of blood donor records was made over a period of 5 years with effect from January 2014 to December 2018 at blood bank, department of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar. Both voluntary and replacement blood donors were selected after taking proper history and examination were included in the study. Serum samples were screened for HIV 1 & 2, HBV (HBsAg) and HCV using ELISA with 3rd generation kits.Results: A total of 56325 blood donors were screened. Out of total 55346 (98.2%) were males and 979 (1.73%) were females. Among them 38969 (69.1%) were replacement donors and 17356 (30.8%) were voluntary donors. The seroprevalance of HBV (HBsAg), HCV and HIV 1and 2 was 0.24%, 0.17% and 0.01% respectively and overall seroprevalance of TTIs was 0.43%.Conclusions: Continuous improvement and implementation of newer techniques like NAT and chemilumenescence for testing of blood for TTIs will reduce the risk of acquiring these infections.lanc

Hepatitis B

Current pharmacologic therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection allow viral suppression and normalization of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and prevent liver disease from progressing. The currently available antiviral therapies very rarely lead to a functional cure. Thus, the future of a cure for HBV lies in triple combination therapies with concerted action on replication inhibition, antigen reduction, and immune stimulation. This book reviews the mechanisms and pathogenesis of HBV, as well as discusses current and potential future treatments

Seroprevalence of HIV in Patients Attending VCTC in a Tertiary Care Hospital and Spectrum of Opportunistic Infections and Profile of CD4 Counts among AIDS patients and Molecular Characterization of HIV.

INTRODUCTION : Infection with Human Immuno Deficiency Virus and its end stage Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome are the major public health challenges of modern times. The HIV positive patients are extremely susceptible to a variety of opportunistic infections which cause morbidity and hospitalization. Though curative treatment for HIV is not available at present, we can minimize the HIV infection by early screening and health education. AIM & OBJECTIVES : To study the seroprevalence of HIV infection in Thanjavur by subjecting the serum samples to Rapid Card tests and confirm by ELISA. To determine the CD4 counts of the reactive patients. To categorise the cases according to the presenting complaints and screen for Opportunistic Infections and do Molecular Characterisation for HIV-1. MATERIALS & METHODS : All cases were screened by COMB-AIDS kit at VCTC, TMCH, Thanjavur. Those samples which test reactive to COMB-AIDS kit are subjected to HIV Triline, HIV Trispot & ELISA.CD4 counts of the reactive patients were detected. Zeihl–Neelsen staining of sputum, culture of oral swabs for Candida, Toxoplasma, HSV-2 screening by ELISA, Cryptococcal latex agglutination test were done for reactive cases.Molecular Characterisation of HIV-1 was done for 10 samples. RESULTS : Seroprevalence of HIV was 2.8%.Oral Candidiasis (39.02%) emerged as the most common Opportunistic Infection followed by Pulmonary Tuberculosis (28.03%), Herpes Simplex Virus -2 (14.45%) Toxoplasmosis (5.78%) and Cryptococcosis (3.41%). All 10 samples answered positive in PCR

Evaluation of dried blood spots as a feasible alternative to plasma for detection, quantification and genotyping of hepatitis C virus: A pilot study

INTRODUCTION: There are 6-10 million HCV carriers in India, of whom many are unaware of treatment. With the availability of directly acting antivirals, there is possibility of cure. Confirmatory diagnosis of HCV infection (HCV RNA detection) is essential prior to starting therapy. HCV RNA detection is not available in many parts of India. Shipment of plasma from distant places to referral laboratory may affect HCV RNA titres. Dried blood spots (DBS) provide an easy alternative for transporting samples to centres where HCV RNA testing is done. AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluating DBS samples as feasible alternative to plasma for HCV RNA detection and HCV core antigen estimation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 40 consecutive patients’ blood samples were collected from patients referred from the Liver Clinic. Whole blood was spotted onto two Whatman 903 cards. One card was incubated at 37ᵒC and other at 4ᵒC for 15 days, after drying. DBS was eluted and run in Abbott Real Time HCV assay. HCV was also quantified using Abbott ARCHITECT HCV core antigen assay for 29 of study patients. Results were compared with normal plasma values. RESULTS: The median log HCV RNA Value (MLHRV) in plasma was 5.67 while in DBS was 3.99 (37ᵒC) and 3.75 (4ᵒC); difference in plasma and DBS MLHRV values was 1.68 (37ᵒC) and 1.92 (4ᵒC) logs, respectively. Inter Class Correlation values were 0.943 (37ᵒC) and 0.950 (4ᵒC), showing high agreement. The median HCV core antigen value for plasma was 325.35 fmol/L, while it was 4.77 (37ᵒC) and 4.64 (4ᵒC) for DBS samples. CONCLUSIONS: DBS can be used for sampling patients from distant resource-limited settings as an alternative to plasma for HCV RNA viral load estimation. Larger studies are required to evaluate feasibility of DBS in the Indian subcontinent, especially for role of HCV core antigen estimation

Epidemiology of major infectious diseases in indigenous and ethnic minority peoples of the Asia Pacific region

This study found a high prevalence of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection within indigenous and ethnic minority populations of the Asia Pacific region. These populations had a higher risk of HIV, malaria, and STH infection than comparative reference majority populations and were also disadvantaged across TB diagnosis and treatment metrics. Vulnerable populations must be considered if the Sustainable Development Agenda goal of ending these pandemics by 2030 is to be achieved

Current Topics in Neglected Tropical Diseases

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries. NTDs affect more than one billion people and cost developing economies billions of dollars every year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NTDs mainly affect populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation, and in close contact with infectious vectors, domestic animals, and livestock. Migration, as well as climate change and variability, are key factors in NTD prevalence. Therefore, NTDs deserve more study. Recently, viruses transmitted by vectors (arboviruses) that affect not only people living in the tropics, but also travelers and migrating populations, have been causing epidemics. Examples of these viruses include Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, Mayaro, and encephalitis viruses. These viruses emerge and reemerge in multiple regions of the world, as occurred in the Americas recently (2013-2017) with Chikungunya and Zika. This book aims to update the significant epidemiological and clinical research of NTDs in many aspects with a multinational perspective

Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries

SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 105 million people worldwide. During this pandemic, researchers and clinicians have been working to understand the molecular mechanisms that underpin viral pathogenesis by studying viral–host interactions. Now, with the global rollout of various COVID-19 vaccines—based on the neutralization of the spike protein using different technologies—viral immunology and cell-based immunity are being investigated. Researchers are also studying how various SARS-CoV-2 genetic mutations will impact the efficacy of these COVID-19 vaccines. At the same time, various antiviral drugs have been identified or repurposed that have potential as anti-SARS-CoV-2 treatments. BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is the acronym used to associate five major emerging national economies. The BRICS countries are known for their significant influence on regional affairs, including being leaders in scientific and clinical research and innovation. This Special Issue includes researchers from BRICS countries, in particular South Africa, involved in the study of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Original articles, as well as new perspectives or reviews on the matter, were welcomed. Research in the fields of vaccine studies, pathogenesis, genetic mutations, viral immunology, and antiviral drugs were especially encouraged

Virological characterization of BK virus among HIV-1 infected individuals and its association with immunosuppression

The human Polyomavirus BK virus (BKV) is an opportunistic pathogen which causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised population. As HIV causes significant immunosuppression, it is important to determine the frequency and viral load of BK virus which are usually increased in these individuals. The frequency of BK viruria in HIV-1 infected individuals is higher than healthy controls. There is a strong association of BKV viruria with the extent of immunosuppression. The frequency and viral load of BKV among HIV infected individuals is very low unlike in transplant settings. NCCR rearrangements were not associated with high BK viral load in urine or clinically severe disease