ABSTRACT
To determine the efficacy of cell culture, immunoflourescence Assay [IFA] and real time polymerase chain reaction [rRT-PCR] in relation to diagnosis of influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RSV]. Total 2781 specimens of throat swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from patients suspected of respiratory viruses' infections from January 2009 to December 2011 at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre [UKMMC].The specimens were processed by cell culture and immunoflurescence assay [IFA] and [rRT-PCR]. Thirty three [1.19%] specimens were positive for influenza virus A and 42 [1.51%] were positive for RSV by cell culture and IFA. On the other hand, rRT-PCR was able to identify 189 of 505 [37.43%] specimens in which 65 were influenza A virus and 124 were RSV. Sensitivity of rRT-PCR was 100% for both influenza A virus and RSV and specificity was 88% and 77% for influenza A virus and RSV, respectively. rRT-PCR diagnosed respiratory viruses in shorter time with a high level of sensitivity in comparison to conventional assays - cell culture and IFA. These advantages help in managing patients by saving cost and hospitalization stay
ABSTRACT
Respiratory infections represent a major public health problem worldwide. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of respiratory syncytial and influenza virus infections and analyzed in respect to demography and clinical perspective. The specimens were processed by cell culture and immunofluorescent assay [IFA] and real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR [rRT-PCR] for detection of respiratory viruses. Out of 505 specimens 189 [37.8%] were positive, in which RSV was positive in 124[24.8%] cases and influenza A was positive in 65[13%] cases. Positive cases for influenza virus A and RSV were analyzed based on demography: age, gender, ethnicity and clinical symptoms. There were no significant differences among gender, ethnicity and clinical symptoms in both RSV and influenza A virus infections. It was observed that children below 3 years of ages were more prone to RSV infections. On the contrary, influenza virus A infected all age groups of humans. RSV infects mostly child below 3 years of age and influenza virus infects all age group. No specificity of RSV and influenza infection in relation to demography
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Hepatitis C virus [HCV] genotyping is important for treatment and epidemiological purposes. The objective was to determine HCV genotype and their associations with certain risk factors at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre [UKMMC]
Methods: A total of 89 samples were collected from December 2009 to January 2011. Demographic data of patients were collected from medical record. Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase chain reaction [RT PCR] was performed and sixty-four samples yielded positive for HCV. Sequencing was performed and analyzed based on sequence information in GenBank. Statistical analysis were done using SPSS version 15
Results: HCV genotype 3 [73%] was the most frequent genotype, followed by genotype 1[27%]. The distribution of HCV genotype/ subtype was as follows: 3a [64.8%], 1a [13.5%], 1 [10.8%], 3 [8.1%] and 1b [2.7%]
Conclusions: HCV subtypes 3a, 1a, and 1b were identified in patients at UKMMC, Malaysia with subtype 3a being the most prevalent. No significant association was found between HCV genotypes and patients' demographic data