Prevalence of hepatitis C virus among bilharziasis patients

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection with concurrent Schistosoma mansoni infestation has emerged as a major cause of chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HCV among bilharzia patients. The study was conducted at the Viral Diagnostic and Parasitology Departments, Regional Laboratory and Blood Bank, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from August 1999 to July 2000. Sera from a total of 405 patients, including 356 Saudi nationals and 49 non-Saudis, who had a clinical suspicion of bilharziasis were tested, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for HCV infection and indirect hemagglutination tests for Schistosoma infestation. Diagnosis of schistosomiasis was made when serum anti-schistosoma antibody titer was either equal to or more than 1:256. A total of 39 cases out of 405 tested positive for bilharzia antibodies comprising of 22 [44.9%] non-Saudi and 17 [4.8%] Saudi individuals. Among these patients 7[17.9%] were found to have evidence of HCV infection. Of the 7 patients tested positive for HCV antibodies, there were 4 [26.7%] Egyptians, 2 [11.8%] Saudis and one [14.3%] Middle-Eastern. Our data shows that a good proportion [17.9%] of patients with bilharziasis had HCV infection. The percentage positive for HCV antibody were 26.7% in Egyptians, which is higher when compared to other nationals and Saudis

Incidence of helicobacter pylori in dental plaque of Saudi gastritis patients

Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] was identified in denial plaque, raising the possibility of future gastritis and peptic ulceration. This trial was to study the association between presence of H. pylori in dental plaque and in the stomachs of patients with gastritis; the effect of oral hygiene and periodontal condition on the stomach. Patients and Seventy-five Saudi adult dyspeptic patients, together with 60 healthy persons as control. Two samples of dental plaque were taken from gingival crevice of deepest pocket. One sample was kept in Christensen's urea agar and incubated for H. pylori detection by rapid urease test. The second sample was kept in 5% sheep blood agar, chocolate agar and a selective medium to culture the H. pylori. Gastric urease test was done for the same patients. [1] Plaque urease test results showed 89% positive patients. [2] Dental plaque Index: Mild dental plaque accumulation in 24%, moderate in 41%, while severe accumulation was in 35% of the patients. [3.] Gingival Index: Showed mild, moderate and severe gingivitis in 17%, 48% and 35% of patients, respectively. [4] Community periodontal index of treatment needs [CPITN]: Showed gingivitis, mild periodontitis and moderate periodontitis in 50%, 23% and 27% of patients, respectively. [5] Gastric urease 87% of patients were positive. [6] All cultured samples results were negative. The ability to detect H. pylori in dental plaque samples offers a potential for a noninvasive test for gastric infection and would lend support for oral spread of H. pylori as the principal mode of transmission. However, the presence of H. pylori in dental plaque and in the stomach [in gastritis patients] could permit not only a target for therapeutic procedures but also a monitoring tool for the efficacy of therapy

Immune response to recombinant DNA [r-DNA] hepatitis B vaccine, in medical, dental and paramedical personnel, in the eastern province Saudi Arabia

To determine the efficacy of r-DNA HB vaccine in the medical population of Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, 380 personnel were screened for HBs Ag and anti-HBs, the negative ones [331] were included in this study that started at March 1989. Three dose [20 Mg/ml] of r-DNA Hepatitis B vaccine "ENGERIX-BR were given [0-1-6 months] intervals, and post-vaccination evaluation for anti-HBs were done three months after the third dose. 96% [318 out of 331 vaccinees] were sero-converted with high anti-HBs level > 100 IU/1. While 4% did not respond, those were revaccinated by booster doses. All of them, but one, were sero-converted. Thus, giving grand total immunization rate of 99.7% with high and/or medium [but acceptable] anti-HBs level, regarding the 32 HB sAg positives that were not of course included in the vaccination program. 65.5% were positive for HBV markers [HBeAg and/or anti-HBe, HBclgM, anti-HBc] indicative of recent infection with infectious, or potentially infectious status. These represented infection rates of 75%, 66.6%, 50% and 75% among doctors, nurses, mid-technicians and ancillary services respectively. The conclusion was to adopt vaccination of all medical and paramedical staff as they join their jobs, and recommended four dose vaccination program with either r-DNA, or plasma derived HB vaccine [as both are interchangeably] at intervals 0-1-6-9 months interval even without post-vaccination test. By the 3/4 dose policy 99.7% sero conversion rate is reached with highly immunizing anti-HBs levels

Immune response to recombinant DNA [r-DNA] hepatitis B vaccine, in medical, dental and paramedical personnel, in the eastern province, Saudi Arabia

Three dose [20 ug/ml] of r-DNA Hepatitis B vaccine "ENGERIX-BR" were given [0-1-6 months] intervals, and post vaccination evaluation for anti-HBs were done three months after the 3rd dose. 96% [318 out of 331 vaccines] were sero-converted with high anti-HBs level > 100 IU/1. While 4% did not respond, those were revaccinated by booster doses. All of them-but one-sero-converted. Thus giving grand total immunization rate of 99.7% with high and/or medium [but acceptable] anit-HBs level. Regarding the 32 HBsAg positives that were not of course included in the vaccination program, 65.6% were positive for HBV markers [HBeAg and/or anti-HBe, HBcIgM, anti-HBc] indicative or recent infection with infectious, or potentially infectious status. These represented infection rates of 75%, 66.6%, 50% and 75% among doctors, nurses, med-technicians and ancillary services respectively. The main conclusion is to adopt vaccination of all medical and paramedical staff as they join their jobs, and four dose vaccination program is recommended with either r-DNA, or plasma derived HB vaccine [as both are interchangeably] at intervals 0-1-6-9 months interval even without post-vaccination. By the 3/4 dose policy 99.7% sero- conversion rate was reached with highly immunizing anti-HBs levels. A stress on the importance of following the universal precaution strategy for safety, by all the medical and paramedical staff is needed

prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in healthy subjects residing in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B in Eastern Province blood was drawn over a period of 3 years from blood donors, foodhandlers, pregnant Saudi women and children born to HBsAg positive mothers, and tested for presence of HBsAg by Reverse Passive Haemagglutination [RPHA] technique. Of 24690 people, 2418 [9.8%] were found to be positive for HBsAg. Yemeni South-east Asians, Saudis, Indians, Middle Easterners and Europeans were found to be 13.8%, 12.5%, 11.9%, 8.6%, 8.5%, and 0.5% positive for HBsAg respectively: 522 [12.3%] Saudi men and 38 [8.2%] pregnant Saudi women were HBsAg positive. Fourteen children [8.3%] under 5 years of age and born to HBsAg positive mothers were HBsAg positive; the positivity was lowest [<3.6%] below 2 years and highest [>6.1%] above 3 years. We conclude that HBV infection is equally common in both the indigenous population and expartriates; that horizontal transmission maybe of more importance than vertical transmission and that vaccination of high-risk populations may reduce the overall HBV endemicity in the Kingdom