Study on Prevalence of TTV among Cirrhotic patients due to Hepatitis B & C in Ahwaz University Hospitals during the Years 2004-2005

Background and Aims: Recently, a novel DNA virus was isolated from the serum of a patient with post-transfusion non A-G hepatitis and named TT virus. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence TT virus among cirrhotic patients due to hepatitis B & C in infection Ahwaz. Methods: The prevalence of TTV infection was studied in 41 patients with liver cirrhosis. TTV DNA was detected by semi-nested PCR. The plasma samples were tested for marker hepatitis B & C by ELISA test. Results: TT virus was detected in 17(41.46%) of the 41 patients with cirrhotic liver disease. There were no significant difference between the subject TTV DNA in relation to sex and age. TTV positivity in cirrhotic patient infected with hepatitis B (52.9%) was higher than in similar patients infected with hepatitis C (47.1%). Conclusion: TTV infection was highly prevalence in patient with cirrhotic hepatitis, especially in those with hepatitis B virus infection

Burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in the Middle Eastern and North African pediatric population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is the most common cause of severe childhood diarrhea worldwide. Objectives were to estimate the burden of RVGE among children less than five years old in the Middle East (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen), North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia) and Turkey.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A comprehensive literature search was conducted in major databases on the epidemiology and burden of rotavirus among children less than five years old between 1999 and 2009. Data from each country was extracted and compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The search identified 43 studies. RVGE was identified in 16-61% of all cases of acute gastroenteritis, with a peak in the winter. RVGE-related hospitalization rates ranged from 14% to 45%, compared to 14%-28% for non-RVGE. Annually, RVGE caused up to 112 fatalities per 100,000 in certain countries in the region. Hospitalization costs ranged from $1.8 to$4.6 million annually, depending on the country. The most recent literature available showed that G1P[8] was the most prevalent genotype combination in 8 countries (range 23%-56%). G2P[4] was most prevalent in 4 countries (26%-48%). G9P[8] and G4P[8] were also frequently detected.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>RVGE is a common disease associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Given the variety and diverse rotavirus types in the region, use of a vaccine with broad and consistent serotype coverage would be important to help decrease the burden of RVGE in the Middle East and North Africa.</p

Determination of hepatitis C virus genotypes among blood donors in Ahvaz, Iran

This study aims to determine the genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among blood donors at Ahvaz Blood Transfusion Centre. Blood samples were taken from 2376 blood donors - 1795 (75.54%) male and 581(24.45%) female - who referred to Ahvaz Blood Transfusion Centre during 2007-2008. Detection of anti-HCV antibody for all the donors was carried out by ELISA and the confirmatory RIBA tests. HCV RT-PCR followed by RFLP test was carried out for anti-HCV positive samples. Out of 2376 blood donors, only 55 (2.3%) male donors showed to be positive for HCV antibody by ELISA and RIBA tests out of which 45(1.8%) donors were positive for RT-PCR test. Female donors were negative for HCV antibody. The result of HCV genotyping by RFLP test showed 24 (53.3%) for 1a, 17 (37.7%) for 3a (a) and 4 (8.8%) for 3a (b) genotypes respectively. In conclusion, high prevalence of 53.3% HCV 1a genotype was observed among blood donors in Ahvaz city

Rotavirus VP7, VP4 and VP6 genotypes co-circulating in Tehran, Iran, between 2003 and 2004

Rotaviruses were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 92 out of 374 faecal samples collected between November 2003 and October 2004 at the Markaz Tebbi Koudakan Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from children aged 6 months to 5 years. Analysis of clinical and disease severity data showed a significant association between rotavirus infection and diarrhoea, vomiting and severe dehydration. Ninety-two samples (64 rotavirus ELISA-positive and 28 ELISA-negative samples) were sent to the Enteric Virus Unit, Virus Reference Department, Centre for Infection, Health Protection Agency, UK for rotavirus characterization by G-typing, P-typing and subgrouping (SG) using reverse transcriptase (RT)–PCR, semi-nested PCR and sequencing methods. In this study, both common and uncommon rotavirus genotypes were detected. The most prevalent types were G1P[8], SGII (59·2%) followed by G9P[8] SGII (15·5%) which has not been previously reported from Iran. Unusual genotypes G1P[10] SGI (2·8%) and G12P[8] SGII (1·4%) and strains derived from reassortment between common co-circulating genotypes such as G1P[4] SGII represented 5·6% of strains. Mixed infections with combinations of G1+G4P[8] SGII and G1+G9P[8] SGII were also found. This contrasts with previous reports from Iran in which a small number of common rotavirus strains (G1 and G4) were found. This study highlights the need for continued surveillance and characterization of rotaviruses to take account of the rapid evolution and introduction of novel rotaviruses into the human population