Epidemiological Aspects of Rotavirus Infection in Ahwaz, Iran

Rotavirus is the major cause of diarrhoea in children worldwide. In this study, conducted in the city of Ahwaz, Iran, during November 2001 - March 2002, stool samples from 200 inpatient (n=63) and outpatient (n= 137) children aged 1-24 month(s) were analyzed. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used for isolating rotavirus. Rotavirus was isolated from 36 (26.3%) of the 137 stool samples of outpatients and from 23 (36.5%) of the 63 stool samples of inpatients. The overall frequency of rotavirus in this population was 29.5%. The highest detection of rotavirus was made in children aged 7-12 months, which demonstrated that the relationship between age and rate of rotaviral infection was statistically significant (p<0.05). The predominant electrophoretic pattern detected was the long (L) electrophoretype (46 of 59; 78%), followed by the short (S) electrophoretype (12 of 59; 20.3%). One strain had a mixed pattern. Such analysis throughout Iran would assist in developing sound guidelines for the prevention of rotavirus infections

Cytokine Profiles and Cell Proliferation Responses to Truncated ORF2 Protein in Iranian Patients Recovered from Hepatitis E Infection

Background.The aim of this study was to evaluate hepatitis E virus (HEV) specific cellular immune responses to truncated ORF2 protein in Iranian patients recovered from HEV infection. Information about HEV-specific immune responses could be useful in finding an effective way for development of HEV vaccine. Methods. A truncated formof HEVORF2 protein containing amino acids 112-608 was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) separated from HEV-recovered and control groups. Finally, the levels of four cytokines, IFN

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

A novel medium-throughput biological assay system for HTLV-1 infectivity and drug discovery

Objective(s): Here, a reporter cell line containing two reporter vectors were developed, in order to monitor the Human T-Lymphotropic Virus type1(HTLV-1) infectivity and the cell viability simultaneously. Materials and Methods: The reporter cell line was constructed by stably transfected baby hamster's kidney cell line (BHK-21), with the genomes expressing two different reporters in separate plasmids.The first reporter gene is transactivated by the HTLV-1 tax protein, while the second reporter is continuously expressed when introduced into a mammalian cell. In order to show its functionality, the effect of the drug mix on HTLV-1 was assayed by this system and was compared to the results obtained by other methods. Results: HTLV-1 reporter cell line was found to produce high level of luciferase when co-cultured with MT-2 and Hut-102 cells but not with Jurkat cell. Moreover, the combination therapy against HTLV-1 can reduce luciferase expression of the cell when co-cultured with MT-2 and Hut-102 comparable to the ELISA (R=0.932, P-value =0.002). In addition, the results revealed the superiority of the present system over the molecular methods. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the biological assay system is a beneficial tool for the medium-throughput anti-HTLV-1 drug screening and inhibitory effect

Epidemiological Aspects of Rotavirus Infection in Ahwaz, Iran

Rotavirus is the major cause of diarrhoea in children worldwide. In this study, conducted in the city of Ahwaz, Iran, during November 2001 - March 2002, stool samples from 200 inpatient (n=63) and outpatient (n= 137) children aged 1-24 month(s) were analyzed. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used for isolating rotavirus. Rotavirus was isolated from 36 (26.3%) of the 137 stool samples of outpatients and from 23 (36.5%) of the 63 stool samples of inpatients. The overall frequency of rotavirus in this population was 29.5%. The highest detection of rotavirus was made in children aged 7-12 months, which demonstrated that the relationship between age and rate of rotaviral infection was statistically significant (p<0.05). The predominant electrophoretic pattern detected was the long (L) electrophoretype (46 of 59; 78%), followed by the short (S) electrophoretype (12 of 59; 20.3%). One strain had a mixed pattern. Such analysis throughout Iran would assist in developing sound guidelines for the prevention of rotavirus infections