Hepatitis A and E seroprevalence and associated risk factors: a community-based cross-sectional survey in rural Amazonia

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are both transmitted by the faecal-oral route, and represent common causes of acute hepatitis in developing countries. The endemicity of HAV infection has shifted from high to moderate in Brazil. Human cases of HEV infection seem to be rare, although the virus has been detected in swine livestock and effluents of slaughterhouses. This study was to determine the epidemiology of hepatitis A and E in one of the largest agricultural settlements in the Amazon Basin of Brazil.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Serum samples collected from 397 individuals aged between 5 and 90 years during a population-based cross-sectional survey were tested for anti-HAV and anti-HEV antibodies. Associated risk factors and spatial clustering of HAV and HEV seropositivity were also analyzed.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud The overall rate of HAV seropositivity was 82.9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 79.2-86.6%). Multilevel logistic regression analysis identified increasing age (in years; odds ratio (OR), 1.097; 95% CI, 1.050-1.147; P < 0.001) and crowding (OR, 1.603; 95% CI, 1.054-2.440; P = 0.028) as significant risk factors for HAV seropositivity. Anti-HEV IgG was detected in 50/388 settlers (12.9%, 95% CI, 9.5-16.2%). Anti-HEV IgM was detected in 7/43 (16.3%) anti-IgG positive samples, and 4 of them had a confirmed result by immunoblot. Increasing age was the only significant determinant of HEV seropositivity (OR, 1.033; 95% CI, 1.016-1.050; P < 0.001). No significant spatial clustering of HAV and HEV seropositivity was detected in the area.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Both HAV and HEV are endemic, with differing rates of infection in children and adults in this rural setting of the Brazilian Amazon. Anti-HEV prevalence was considerably higher than those previously reported in Brazil. The detection of HEV- specific IgM antibodies in four asymptomatic individuals is highly suggestive of the circulation of HEV in this rural population.This work was supported by grants from the Fundação de Amparo à\ud Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ E-26/ 110.278/2012 - APQ1)\ud and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP,\ud 05/51988-0). MdSN was supported by a PhD scholarship from FAPESP, RCCP\ud was supported by a CNPq scholarship. MUF, MAP, and AMCG receive sênior\ud research scholarships from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento\ud Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil.\ud Vitral et al. BMC Infectious Diseases 2014, 14:458 Page 7 of 9\ud http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/14/458\ud We would like to thank the inhabitants of Ramal do Granada for their\ud enthusiastic participation in the study; Adamílson L. de Souza for their help in\ud fieldwork, and Estéfano A. de Souza and Bruna A. Luz for data management

Two competitive enzyme immunoassays for the detection of IgG class antibodies to hepatitis a antigen

Two competitive enzyme immunoassays (EIA) techniques were developed: in the first (COMP-1), test sera were added together with HAV antigen on anti-HAV IgG-coated wells followed by an anti-HA VHRP conjugate; in the second (COMP-2), test sera and anti-HA VHRP conjugate competed for HAV epitopes previously adsorbed to anti-HA V IgG-coated wells. Both procedures used tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as a substrate. Both competitive tests were shown to be reproducible and suitable for routine diagnosis and research purposes.<br>Foram desenvolvidos dois ensaios imunoenzimáticos (EIA) competitivos: no primeiro (COMP-1) colocou-se numa placa sensibilizada com anti-HAVIgG as amostras teste juntamente como antígeno HA Vea seguir o conjugado anti-HA VHRP; no segundo (COMP-2), as amostras teste e o conjugado anti-HAV HRP competem pelos epitopos do antígeno HAV previamente absorvido na placa sensibilizada do anti-HAV IgG. O substrato utilizado foi tetrametilbenzidina (TMB). Ambas as técnicas mostraram ser produtíveis e aplicáveis para fins de diagnóstico e pesquisa

Seroprevalencia de la hepatitis A en niños de escuelas públicas en Campos dos Goytacazes, Río de Janeiro, Brasil, antes de la introducción de la vacunación infantil universal

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2017-03-05T13:36:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 marcelo_pinto_etal_IOC_2016.pdf: 332432 bytes, checksum: 22190b55a2f7621f2a0242f391573963 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2017-03-05T13:51:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 marcelo_pinto_etal_IOC_2016.pdf: 332432 bytes, checksum: 22190b55a2f7621f2a0242f391573963 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-05T13:51:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marcelo_pinto_etal_IOC_2016.pdf: 332432 bytes, checksum: 22190b55a2f7621f2a0242f391573963 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016Secretaria Municipal de Saúde. Campos dos Goytacazes. RJ, Brasil / Faculdade de Medicina de Campos. Campos dos Goycatazes, RJ, Brasil / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto Biomédico. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto Biomédico. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Programa de Computação Científica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto Biomédico. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Estudo do corte transversal, realizado entre agosto de 2011 e julho de 2012 em Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Amostras de sangue capilar em papel de filtro foram coletadas de 919 indivíduos com idade entre 1 e 19 anos e testadas para anticorpos para o vírus da hepatite A (anti-HAV). A prevalência total foi de 20,7% e 94,7% das crianças abaixo de 5 anos foi suscetível a infecção pelo HAV. A prevalência de anti-HAV aumentou com a idade, alcançando 33,3% entre indivíduos com 15 a 19 anos, caracterizando este município com um nível baixo de endemicidade para hepatite A. Idade, cor da pele não-branca, hábito de nadar no rio e número de moradores na residência acima de 5 foram associados com o aumento de chance de ser positivo para anti-HAV. O nível educacional materno (médio ou superior) foi considerado como fator de proteção para a infecção pelo HAV. Os dados obtidos mostraram que uma grande parte das crianças de Campos dos Goytacazes estava sob risco de infecção pelo HAV, o que deve ser minimizado com o programa de vacinação contra hepatite A implantado em 2011 no município.This cross-sectional study was carried out between August 2011 and July 2012 in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Dried blood spot samples were collected on filter paper from 919 individuals between the ages of 1 and 19 and were tested for antibodies against the hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). The total prevalence was 20.7%, while 94.7% of children under the age of 5 were found to be susceptible to HAV infection. The prevalence of anti-HAV increased with age, reaching 33.3% among individuals aged between 15 and 19, thereby indicating that this municipality has a low level of endemicity for hepatitis A. Age, non-white skin color, accustomed to swimming in the river and more than five people living at home were the factors that were associated with an increase in the chance of a positive anti-HAV result. Mother's education level (secondary or tertiary) was considered a protective factor for HAV infection. The data obtained showed that a large proportion of the children from Campos dos Goytacazes were at risk of HAV infection, which should be minimized with the introduction of the vaccination program against hepatitis A that was launched in the municipality in 2011.Estudio de corte transversal, realizado entre agosto de 2011 y julio de 2012 en Campos dos Goytacazes, Río de Janeiro, Brasil. Se recogieron muestras de sangre capilar en papel de filtro de 919 individuos con una edad entre 1 y 19 años y testadas para anticuerpos del virus de la hepatitis A (anti-HAV). La prevalencia total fue de un 20,7% y un 94,7% de los niños por debajo de los 5 años fue susceptible a la infección por el HAV. La prevalencia de anti-HAV aumentó con la edad, alcanzando un 33,3% entre individuos con 15 a 19 años, caracterizando este municipio con un nivel bajo de endemicidad para la hepatitis A. Edad, color de piel no-blanca, hábito de nadar en el río y un número de ocupantes en la residencia de más de 5 se asociaron con el aumento de oportunidad de ser positivo para anti-HAV. El nivel educacional materno (medio o superior) se consideró como un factor de protección para la infección por el HAV. Los datos obtenidos mostraron que una gran parte de los niños de Campos dos Goytacazes estaba bajo riesgo de infección por el HAV, lo que debe ser minimizado con el programa de vacunación contra la hepatitis A implantado en 2011 en el municipio

Complement System as a Target for Therapies to Control Liver Regeneration/Damage in Acute Liver Failure Induced by Viral Hepatitis

The complement system plays an important role in innate immunity inducing liver diseases as well as signaling immune cell activation in local inflammation regulating immunomodulatory effects such as liver damage and/or liver regeneration. Our aim is to evaluate the role of complement components in acute liver failure (ALF) caused by viral hepatitis, involving virus-induced ALF in human subjects using peripheral blood, samples of liver tissues, and ex vivo assays. Our findings displayed low levels of C3a in plasma samples with high frequency of C3a, C5a, and C5b/9 deposition in liver parenchyma. Meanwhile, laboratory assays using HepG2 (hepatocyte cell line) showed susceptibility to plasma samples from ALF patients impairing in vitro cell proliferation and an increase in apoptotic events submitting plasma samples to heat inactivation. In summary, our data suggest that the complement system may be involved in liver dysfunction in viral-induced acute liver failure cases using ex vivo assays. In extension to our findings, we provide insights into future studies using animal models for viral-induced ALF, as well as other associated soluble components, which need further investigation

Hepatitis A seroprevalence in public school children in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, prior to the introduction of the hepatitis A universal childhood vaccination

Abstract: This cross-sectional study was carried out between August 2011 and July 2012 in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Dried blood spot samples were collected on filter paper from 919 individuals between the ages of 1 and 19 and were tested for antibodies against the hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). The total prevalence was 20.7%, while 94.7% of children under the age of 5 were found to be susceptible to HAV infection. The prevalence of anti-HAV increased with age, reaching 33.3% among individuals aged between 15 and 19, thereby indicating that this municipality has a low level of endemicity for hepatitis A. Age, non-white skin color, accustomed to swimming in the river and more than five people living at home were the factors that were associated with an increase in the chance of a positive anti-HAV result. Mother's education level (secondary or tertiary) was considered a protective factor for HAV infection. The data obtained showed that a large proportion of the children from Campos dos Goytacazes were at risk of HAV infection, which should be minimized with the introduction of the vaccination program against hepatitis A that was launched in the municipality in 2011

A single dose of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine promotes HAV-specific memory cellular response similar to that induced by a natural infection

Submitted by sandra infurna ([email protected]) on 2016-02-16T15:56:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 lia_ximenez_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 1130672 bytes, checksum: 99ca2327c3aee33314e3763f002fb051 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by sandra infurna ([email protected]) on 2016-02-16T16:13:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lia_ximenez_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 1130672 bytes, checksum: 99ca2327c3aee33314e3763f002fb051 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-16T16:13:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lia_ximenez_etal_IOC_2015.pdf: 1130672 bytes, checksum: 99ca2327c3aee33314e3763f002fb051 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Niterói, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Bio-Manguinhos. Laboratório de Tecnologia Diagnóstica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Ambulatório de Hepatites Virais. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Ambulatório de Hepatites Virais. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Presidência. Programa de Computação Científica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Based on current studies on the effects of single dose vaccines on antibody production, Latin American countries have adopted a single dose vaccine program. However, no data are available on the activation of cellular response to a single dose of hepatitis A. Our study investigated the functional reactivity of the memory cell phenotype after hepatitis A virus (HAV) stimulation through administration of the first or second dose of HAV vaccine and compared the response to that of a baseline group to an initial natural infection. Proliferation assays showed that the first vaccine dose induced HAV-specific cellular response; this response was similar to that induced by a second dose or an initial natural infection. Thus, from the first dose to the second dose, increase in the frequencies of classical memory B cells, TCD8 cells, and central memory TCD4 and TCD8 cells were observed. Regarding cytokine production, increased IL-6, IL-10, TNF, and IFN levels were observed after vaccination. Our findings suggest that a single dose of HAV vaccine promotes HAV-specific memory cell response similar to that induced by a natural infection. The HAV-specific T cell immunity induced by primary vaccination persisted independently of the protective plasma antibody level. In addition, our results suggest that a single dose immunization system could serve as an alternative strategy for the prevention of hepatitis A in developing countries

Changes in cellular proliferation and plasma products are associated with liver failure

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2017-02-21T11:36:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 lia2_ximenez_etal_IOC_2016.pdf: 1411604 bytes, checksum: 0bb747412f74f3573dcc7c75187a62ca (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2017-02-21T11:54:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lia2_ximenez_etal_IOC_2016.pdf: 1411604 bytes, checksum: 0bb747412f74f3573dcc7c75187a62ca (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-21T11:54:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lia2_ximenez_etal_IOC_2016.pdf: 1411604 bytes, checksum: 0bb747412f74f3573dcc7c75187a62ca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Niterói, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Biologia Geral. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil..Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Biologia Geral. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil..Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Ambulatório de Hepatites Virais. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Hospital Federal de Bonsucesso. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Hospital Federal de Bonsucesso. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Programa de Computação Científica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.To study the differences in immune response and cytokine profile between acute liver failure and self-limited acute hepatitis

Declining prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies among children from low socioeconomic groups reinforces the need for the implementation of hepatitis A vaccination in Brazil

Age-related seroprevalence studies that have been conducted in Brazil have indicated a transition from a high to a medium endemicity of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the population. However, most of these studies have focused on urban populations that experience lower incidence rates of HAV infection. In the current study, the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies was investigated in children with a low socioeconomic status (SES) that live on the periphery of three capital cities in Brazil. A total of 1,162 dried blood spot samples were collected from individuals whose ages ranged from one-18 years and tested for anti-HAV antibodies. A large number of children under five years old (74.1-90%) were identified to be susceptible to HAV infection. The anti-HAV antibody prevalence reached ≥ 50% among those that were 10-14 years of age or older. The anti-HAV prevalence rates observed were characteristics of regions with intermediate level of hepatitis A endemicity. These data indicated that a large proportion of children with a low SES that live at the periphery of urban cities might be at risk of contracting an HAV infection. The hepatitis A vaccine that is currently offered in Brazil is only available for high-risk groups or at private clinics and is unaffordable for individuals with a lower SES. The results from this study suggest that the hepatitis A vaccine should be included in the Brazilian National Program for Immunisation