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

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Bushehr province, Iran

Background and Objectives: Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is very important for the treatment of hepatitis C infection. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HCV genotypes in Bushehr province (South West of Iran). Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients who were detected as positive for HCV antibody (by using ELISA method and RIBA test) referred to Arya Virology Laboratory between 2007-2009 in order to molecular diagnosis and furthermore virus genotyping. After detection of HCV, RNA genotyping of virus was done by using genotype specific primers. Results: Genotype 1a was found in 49% of the patients and genotype 3a was found in 40% of the patients and 1b in 5% of patients, while the genotype of the virus could not be identified in 5% of the patients. Finally, in 1% of patients coinfection due to 1a-3a genotypes was identified. Conclusion: The dominant genotype of HCV in Bushehr province, Iran, was determined as 1a.with acute hepatitis C ultimately develop chronic infection1. Only a minority of cases of acute HCV recover completely, with spontaneous virus eradication. In most cases the acute infection progresses to chronicity. Chronic HCV infection is defined as an infection that persists for more than 6 months, with or without clinical manifestations of hepatic or extrahepatic disease. Chronic type of this infection can cause cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. HCV infection is a global health problem and it is estimated that 200 million people of the world population are infected5. The global spread of chronic HCV infection coincided with the widespread use of transfused blood and blood products and with the expansion of intravenous drug use but decreased prior to the wide implementation of anti-HCV screening6. There are at least six major genotypes designated by Arabic numerals and more than 50 subtypes of HCV identified by lower case letters. The different genotypes have different geographic distributions1,4. Genotype determination of HCV is one of the most important factors in order to prediction of the viral persistency, pathogenicity and resistancy to antivirals7. The success and the treatment period of interferon and ribavirin seems to be related to the genotype of virus8. Furthermore, HCV genotyping is a useful tool to determine its molecular epidemiology, as they are indicative of transmission route of infection9,10. There is no published data about the distribution of HCV genotypes from Bushehr province (South West of Iran). Prevalence of HCV genotypes in Bushehr is an issue that is not sufficiently investigated and there is a need, therefore, to study this in detail

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

The prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus in the genital tract of males in Iran

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral sexually-transmitted infection. Despite HPV infection is associated with several malignant disorders including penile and anal cancers, little is known about the epidemiology of HPV infection in males, particularly in developing countries. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection and its genotype distribution among Iranian males. Patients and Methods: Between March 2009 and April 2014, a total number of 483 males, referred to Iran University of Medical Sciences-affiliated sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinics, were enrolled in this study. Following DNA extraction, HPV detection and genotyping were performed using INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra assay. To analyze the association of HPV infection and age, the logistic regression was employed. Results: No statistical association between HPV infection and age was observed (P = 0.469). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant correlation between HR HPV infection and age (P = 0.330). Conclusions: In this investigation, the prevalence of HPV infection was relatively substantial. Totally, 17 different HPV genotypes were detected and the most frequently detected genotypes were HPV6, HPV11, HPV16, HPV18 and HPV52, respectively. The data from this study is essential for planning future public health strategies including HPV vaccination programs. © 2015, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Detection of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA in the plasma of Iranian HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background: Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a marker of HBV replication in the liver of patients infected with HBV. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between the presence of cccDNA in the plasma samples of Iranian treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and HBV viral load and HBsAg levels. Patients and Methods: From April 2012 to May 2015, 106 treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The HBsAg titer was measured by the Roche HBsAg II assay on the Cobas e411 system, and HBV DNA quantitation was performed using the COBAS TaqMan 48 kit. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for the detection of HBV cccDNA. Results: The mean (SD) age of the patients was 41.1 ± 12.4 years (range, 20 - 62 years). From a total of 106 study participants, 67 (63.2) were males. The HBV cccDNA was detected in plasma specimens in 19 (17.9) out of the total 106 patients, and a significant relationship was found between the presence of cccDNA in plasma sample of males (23.9) and females (7.7) (P = 0.039). Also, a significant correlation was found between the presence of cccDNA in plasma sample of the patients and HBV viral load level (P < 0.0001) and HBsAg titer (P = 0.0043). Conclusions: This study showed that cccDNA can be detected in the plasma specimen of 17.9 of Iranian treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. Therefore, designing prospective studies focusing on the detection of cccDNA in these patients would provide more information. © 2015, Kowsar Corp

Molecular screening and single nucleotide polymorphism typing of molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) from genital specimens, between 2012 and 2015

Background: The present study is the first comprehensive report of the Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) in Iran based on the molecular technique for differentiation and typing of the MCV1 and MCV2. Methods: Patients were diagnosed as having tumor-like genital warts less than 5 mm in diameter, and HIV seronegative samples were chosen for this cross-sectional study. TaqMan real-time PCR was used to identify MCV following clinical examination. Typing of the MCV-positive specimens was performed in the SNP A27451G region of MC021L gene. Results: Of 1470 samples, 114 (7.75) samples were positive for the MCV. From MCV-positive samples, 71.05 sequences were found to be related to the MCV1 and 28.95 to the MCV2. Conclusion: This assay constitutes a reliable method for identification and typing of the MCV genomic variants that could be valuable for reviewing the pathogenesis, molecular epidemiology, and the natural history of MCV-related situations. © 2018, Pasteur Institute of Iran. All rights reserved

High resolution melting curve assay for detecting rs12979860 IL28B polymorphisms involved in response of iranian patients to chronic hepatitis C treatment

Background: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) on patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with peginterferon and ribavirin (pegIFN-α/RBV) identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on chromosome 19 (rs12979860) which was strongly associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). The aim of this study was twofold: to study the relationship between IL28B rs12979860 and sustained virological response (SVR) to pegIFN-α/RVB therapy among CHC patients and to detect the rs12979860 polymorphism by high resolution melting curve (HRM) assay as a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method. Materials and Methods: The study examined outcomes in 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C in 2 provinces of Iran from December 2011 to June 2013. Two methods were applied to detect IL28B polymorphisms: PCR-sequencing as a gold standard method and HRM as a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method. Results: The frequencies of IL28B rs12979860 CC, CT, and TT alleles in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1a patients were 10 (10/100), 35 (35/100), and 6 (6/100) and in genotype 3a were 13 (13/100), 31 (31/100), and 5 (5/100), respectively. In genotype 3a infected patients, rs12979860 (CC and CT alleles) and in genotype 1a infected patients (CC allele) were significantly associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). The SVR rates for CC, CT and TT (IL28B rs12979860) were 18, 34 and 4, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified two independent factors that were significantly associated with SVR: IL-28B genotype (rs 12979860 CC vs TT and CT; odds ratio ORs, 7.86 and 4.084, respectively), and HCV subtype 1a (OR, 7.46). In the present study, an association between SVR rates and IL28B polymorphisms was observed. Conclusions: The HRM assay described herein is rapid, inexpensive, sensitive and accurate for detecting rs12979860 alleles in CHC patients. This method can be readily adopted by any molecular diagnostic laboratory with HRM capability and will be clinically beneficial in predicting treatment response in HCV genotype 1 and 3 infected patients. In addition, it was demonstrated that CC and CT alleles in HCV-3a and the CC allele in HCV-1a were significantly associated with response to pegIFN-α/RBV treatment. The present results may help identify subjects for whom the therapy might be successful

Molecular screening and single nucleotide polymorphism typing of molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) from genital specimens, between 2012 and 2015

Background: The present study is the first comprehensive report of the Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) in Iran based on the molecular technique for differentiation and typing of the MCV1 and MCV2. Methods: Patients were diagnosed as having tumor-like genital warts less than 5 mm in diameter, and HIV seronegative samples were chosen for this cross-sectional study. TaqMan real-time PCR was used to identify MCV following clinical examination. Typing of the MCV-positive specimens was performed in the SNP A27451G region of MC021L gene. Results: Of 1470 samples, 114 (7.75) samples were positive for the MCV. From MCV-positive samples, 71.05 sequences were found to be related to the MCV1 and 28.95 to the MCV2. Conclusion: This assay constitutes a reliable method for identification and typing of the MCV genomic variants that could be valuable for reviewing the pathogenesis, molecular epidemiology, and the natural history of MCV-related situations. © 2018, Pasteur Institute of Iran. All rights reserved

Distribution frequency of hepatitis C virus genotypes in 2231 patients in Iran

Aim: Given the importance of frequency distribution of HCV genotypes, we studied genotypic distribution of HCV in Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 2231 patients with hepatitis C who presented in hepatitis clinics in Tehran were investigated for HCV genotypes. Methods: Genotyping was performed by genotype specific primers. Results: The highest frequency was for genotype 1a, with 886 (39.7) of subjects. Genotype 3a and 1b were the other frequent genotypes, with 613 (27.5) and 271 (12.1) subjects, respectively. Of the samples, 401 (18) had an undetermined genotype. Mixed genotypes were also found in 33 samples (1.6). Genotype 1b frequency in patients under 20 years old was 10.2, while its frequency in patients over 60 years old was 18.5. Genotype 1b frequency significantly increased by age (P=0.02). Conclusion: This study indicates that the dominant HCV genotype among patients living in Tehran was 1a. © 2007 The Japan Society of Hepatology