Human bocavirus in hospitalized iranian adults with respiratory tract infections during January-June 2014

The epidemiology of respiratory human bocavirus (HBoV) infection has not been described in Tehran's adult and to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics associated with HBoV infection, a population of adults hospitalized with respiratory tract infections were chosen. Throat swab samples were collected from 91 hospitalized adults aged between 29 to 91 year and Real-time PCR TaqMan was used to screen specimens by amplifying a part of the NP1 gene. HBoV was detected in 6 adults (6.6). Mean age was 76 years and 67 of patients were female. The most common symptoms were wheezing (100), tachypnea (100), cough (100), rhinorrhea/pharyngitis (83.33) and fever (83.33) which clinically diagnosed by a physician. Gastrointestinal symptoms was present only in 1 patient (16.6). In our study the distribution of HBoV was influenced by temperature, relative humidity and precipitation. HBoV is circulating in Tehran and is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract disease in adults

Expression, purification and immunogenic description of a hepatitis c virus recombinant coreE1E2 protein expressed by yeast pichia pastoris

Background: Gradual development of a useful vaccine can be the main point in the control and eradication of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Hepatitis C Virus envelope glycoproteins are considered as the main HCV vaccine candidate. Objectives: In this study, the Pichia pastoris expression system was used to express a recombinant HCV CoreE1E2 protein, which consists of Core (269 nt-841nt) E1 (842 nt-1417nt) and E2 (1418 nt-2506nt). Materials and Methods: By a codon optimization technique based on the P. pastoris expression system, we could increase the rate of recombinant proteins. Moreover, the purified protein can efficiently induce anti-CoreE1E2 antibodies in rabbits, and also by developing a homemade Enzyme-Linked ELISA kit we can detect antibody of HCV Iranian patients with genotype 1a. Results: In our study, the virus-like particle of rCoreE1E2 with 70 nm size, was shown by Electron microscopy and proved the self-assembly in vitro in a yeast expression system. Conclusions: These findings of the present study indicate that the recombinant CoreE1E2 glycoprotein is effective in inducing neutralizing antibodies, and is an influential HCV vaccine candidate. © 2015, Kowsar Medical Publishing Company. All rights reserved

Preliminary report of hepatitis B virus genotype prevalence in Iran

Aim: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Iranian hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, chronic hepatitis B and cirrhotic patients. Methods: A total of 109 HBsAg-positive patients were included in this study. HBV genotypes were determined by using INNO-LiPA methodology which is based on the reverse hybridization principle. Results: The distribution of patients with different stages of liver disease was as follows: 95 (86.4) chronic hepatitis, 11 (10) liver cirrhosis, and 3 (2.7) inactive carrier. Of the chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis patients, 26.4 were HBeAg-positive while 70 were HBeAg-negative. Genotype D was the only detected type found in all patients. Conclusion: Classifying HBV into genotypes has to be cost-effective and clinically relevant. Our study indicates that HBV genotype D prevails in the Mediterranean area, Near and Middle East, and South Asia. Continued efforts for understanding HBV genotype through international co-operation will reveal further virological diffierences of the genotypes and their clinical relevance. © 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved

Relation between parvovirus B19 infection and fetal mortality and spontaneous abortion

Background: Infection with parvovirus B19 may cause fetal losses including spontaneous abortion, intrauterine fetal death and non-immune hydrops fetalis. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of parvovirus B19 in formalin fixed placental tissues in lost fetuses using real-time PCR method. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 formalin fixed placental tissues with unknown cause of fetal death were determined using real-time PCR method after DNA extraction. Results: Six out of 100 cases (6) were positive for parvovirus B19 using real-time PCR. Gestational age of all positive cases was less than 20 weeks with a mean of 12.3 weeks. Three cases have a history of abortion and all of positive cases were collected in spring. Mean age of positive cases were 28 years. Conclusion: Parvovirus B19 during pregnancy can infect red precursor cells and induces apoptosis or lyses these cells that resulting in anemia and congestive heart failure leading to fetal death. Management of parvovirus B19 infection in pregnant women is important because immediate diagnosis and transfusion in hydropsic fetuses can decrease the risk of fetal death

Hepatitis A virus and Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence among blood donors in Tehran, Iran

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Hepatitis E virus (HEV) are both transmitted by the fecal-oral route and are known as the leading causes of acute viral hepatitis in the world, especially in developing countries. There is a lack of updated data on HAV and HEV seroprevalence in Iran. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HAV and HEV among a group of blood donors in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from July 2014 to December 2014, on a total of 559 blood donors referred to the Tehran blood transfusion center. The serum samples were tested for antibodies to HAV and HEV, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In the present study, 536 (95.9) cases were male and 23 (4.1) female with mean age of 38 years. Out of 559 blood donors, 107 (19.1) were first-time donors, 163 (29.2) lapsed donors and 289 (51.7) regular donors. Anti-HAV was found in 395 (70.7) and anti-HEV in 45 (8.1) of the blood donors. The HAV and HEV seroprevalence increased by age. There was no significant difference between genders in terms of anti-HAV and anti-HEV status. The HAV and HEV seroprevalence was significantly related to the level of education, where the donors with higher level of education had lower rate of HAV and HEV seroprevalence. The HAV and HEV seroprevalence was significantly higher in regular and lapsed donors than in first-time donors. Conclusions: The present study showed that both HAV and HEV infections are still endemic in Iran. © 2016, Kowsar Corp

Merkel cell polyomavirus infection in a patient with Merkel cell carcinoma: A case report

Introduction: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy of the skin which occurs mainly in old people and is very uncommon in young individuals. A new tumor virus belonging to the Polyomaviridae family; Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) has recently been identified in more than 80 of MCCs. Case Presentation: We conducted a retrospective review on the archives of the Department of Pathology; Imam Khomeini Hospital Cancer Institute affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences to confirm the MCC samples and we found medical records and samples of a young case with MCC who developed leg skin and scalp tumor six and seven years after bone marrow transplantation, respectively. We analyzed patient formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples for the presence of MCPyV DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, and the PCR amplicons were subjected to DNA sequencing. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus DNA was detected in both tumors from patient and sequence analysis of the viral LT3 region showed a close homology to strains circulating worldwide. Conclusions: The findings of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that local, systemic, or tumor-induced immunosuppression may allow the MCPyV to initiate skin aggressive cancer. It is necessary to maintain regular check over patients taking immunosuppressive medications for MCPyV infection. Since there is not any information about detection and molecular biology analysis of MCPyV among Iranian patients with MCC, this study provides more information about MCC and MCPyV in Iran. © 2015, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Assessment of the human cytomegalovirus UL97 gene for immunosuppressedidentification of resistancepatientsto ganciclovir in Iranian

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. Prolonged antiviral therapy is a cause of mutation and drug resistance in the HCMV genome. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify resistance to ganciclovir (GCV) in Iranian immunosuppressed patients at two different stages of the disease: early (before GCV is initiated) and late (after six months of GCV therapy). Patients and Methods: In this study, 87 specimens from Iranian patients were amplified using nested PCR amplification of the UL97 gene. Sequence analyses of products were performed for identifying the mutated codons. Results: The present study show that the most frequent GCV-resistant mutations occurred in codons A594V (26.43), H520Q (18.39), and M460V (13.79), consequently occurring at a low frequency in the L595S (2.29), E596G (1.14), and Del 594 (1.14) codons, and with intermediate frequency in the C592G (10.34), M460I (9.19), and C603W (6.89) codons. We describe for the first time a new GCV-resistance mutation, the deletion of codon 594, in the UL97 gene of Iranian HCMV patients after GCV therapy, following renal transplantation. Conclusions: The findings of the present study can be utilized to detect GCV resistance patterns among Iranian immunocompromised patients and to treat HCMV infections accordingly. © 2016, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

The prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in the oligospermic and azoospermic men

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases that affects men like women and infected cutaneous and mucosal squamous epithelium. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of HPV in the semen of oligospermic, azoospermic and normal patients. Methods: From June 2012 to June 2013, a total of 90 individuals were enrolled in this cross sectional comparative study. The participants were classified into three groups (oligospermia, azoosprmia and normal). This classification was based on a new WHO reference values for human semen characteristics published on 2010. After extraction of DNA from specimens L1 gene of HPV was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested-PCR) and the PCR products of positive specimens were genotyped using INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra assay. Results: Among 50 confirmed oligospermic male, 15 were HPV DNA positive (30). In azoospemic group we had 8 HPV DNA positive (40) and in normal group just 3 of 20(15) samples were positive. Statistical assessment was done with SPSS v.15. Chi-square test showed no significant relationship between 3 groups results. Based on independent samples t-test, we found statistical significant relationship for sperm count (p<0.05) and sperm motility (slow) (p<0.05) in oligospermic group positive samples compared with negative. In the present study, 13 HPV genotypes were detected among positive samples. HPV genotypes 16, 45 in the high risk group and 6,11,42 in the low risk group were more frequent than the others. Conclusion: The current study shows that HPV infection can affect on sperm count and motility and decrease count of sperm cell and decrease motility capability of these cells

Prevalence of GBV-C RNA in HIV infected individuals in Tehran, Iran

Background: GB virus C (GBV-C) is a flavivirus that was characterized in 1995. The prevalence of GBV-C RNA in HIVinfected subjects has not been previously studied in Iran and was therefore determined. Methods: We have investigated serum samples of 80 patients from Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, whose HIV infection was confirmed in our laboratory by Western-blotting. We used nested-PCR to detect GBV-C/HGV RNA in their sera. Results: GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected in 15 (18.8) of 80 patients. There was no significant difference in GBV-C/HGV RNA prevalence between males and females, in different age groups and HIV viral loads groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of GBV-C RNA was high in HIV-infected patients. There was no association between GBV-C RNA prevalence and specific gender, age, and HIV viral loads groups