Molecular epidemiology of measles virus before and after the 2003 mass vaccination campaign for measles/rubella in Iran

Molecular epidemiology of measles virus [MV] is important, not only to measure the success of measles vaccination programs but also to monitor the circulation and elimination of the virus worldwide. In this study, we compared MV obtained from patients before the 2003 mass vaccination MR campaign and viruses detected after 2003 until 2008 in Iran. The nucleoprotein [N] gene of 29 MV strains circulating in Iran between 2002 and 2008 were amplified by RT-PCR and subjected to sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Molecular characterization of MV studied here revealed that although the outbreaks in Iran were associated with MV genotype D4, the isolated viruses clearly belonged to several different lineages. Maximum and minimum homology within the 29 Iranian strains in our study was100% and 94.9% within the carboxyl terminus of the N gene, respectively. Using Clustal X program, the alignment of Iranian MV sequences showed nine lineages. This study provides the usefulness of MV sequence analysis for the demonstration of local interruption of indigenous strain transmission as well as providing a valuable means for monitoring the elimination processes of MV control

Prevalence of rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus infections among patients with acute gastroenteritis in, Northern Iran

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis associated with diarrheal diseases in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. A total of 400 symptomatic cases from patients with acute gastroenteritis from Mazandaran Province in Iran were screened using EIA method for the presence of rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus during 2005-2006. Chi-square tests were used for testing relationships between different variables. Rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus were detected in 62%, 2.3%, and 3% of samples, respectively. The maximum rate of rotaviruses was detected in the<1-year-old age group, while minimum rate was found in the 10 years and older age group. Astrovirus and adenovirus were detected predominantly in the 2-5-year-old age group of children, with a prevalence of 8.3% and 3.5% respectively. All studied viral gastroenteritis peaked in the winter, and minimum rate were found in summer. Our statistical analyzes indicated that viral gastroenteritis, especially Rota-viral, had the highest number of occurrences in colder seasons notably in winter and more frequently were observed among younger children

Distinguishing between primary infection and reinfection with rubella vaccine virus by IgG avidity assay in pregnant women

During the mass measles/rubella vaccination campaign in 2003 in Iran, many pregnant women were vaccinated mistakenly or became pregnant within 1 month of vaccination. To distinguish pregnant women who were affected by rubella vaccine as primary infection from those who had rubella reinfection from the vaccine, serum samples were collected 1-3 months after the campaign from 812 pregnant women. IgG avidity assay showed that 0.3% of the women had no rubella-specific IgG response; 14.4% had low-avidity anti-rubella IgG and were therefore not immune to rubella before vaccination; 85.3% had high-avidity antirubella IgG and were regarded as cases of reinfection

Prevalence of HPV infection and its association with cytological abnormalities of pap smears in Tehran

Human papillomavirus infection is one of the most common genital infections. More than 100 types of this virus have been identified, and most of them are capable of infecting the genital mucosa. Human papillomavirus is in association with cancerous and precancerous lesions of the cervix; some types like HPV 16 and 18 are highly carcinogenic, some types like HPV 31 and 33 are moderately and some types like HPV 6 and 11 are mildly carcinogenic. In this research, the relationship between cytological changes of the squamous epithelial cells and the presence of HPV infections in our cases has been assessed. In this prospective study, we collected 681 samples from women admitted to different hospitals and private gynecological clinics in Tehran, during the years 2003-2005. Two specimens were collected from each patient; one for a Pap smear study and the other for PCR assay in order to detect HPV. Out of our 681 samples, 600 specimens were suitable for PCR assay, and 34 cases were HPV positive in PCR assay. This means that 5.7 percent of our patients were infected with HPV. HPV infection is common in Iran and is nearly identical to European countries such as Germany, and Spain. Also, we found that using PCR assay in order to detect the presence of HPV viruses in vaginal discharges can be very helpful

Antiviral effect assay of twenty five species of various medicinal plants families in Iran

Medicinal plants have been traditionally used for different kinds of ailments including infectious diseases. There is an increasing need for substances with antiviral activity since the treatment of viral infections with the available antiviral drugs often lead to the problem of viral resistance. There is a need to search for new and more effective antiviral agents, therefore in the present study 25 plants with ethno-medical background from different families were screened for antiviral activity against HSV-1, Adenovirus type 5, Echovirus type 11, Measles virus and Rotavirus. Different parts of the plants collected from Iran were extracted with aqueous solvents to obtain crude extracts. These extracts were screened for their cytotoxicity against Vero, BSC-1, Hep-II and RD cell lines by micro-culture neutral red dye absorption and microscopically follow up for CPE. Antiviral properties of the plant extracts were determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay and plaque reduction assay. Four plants extract; Nymphea alba, Rhus coriaria L., Chelidonium majus and Terminalia chebula Retz exhibited significant antiviral activity against HSV-1 and adenovirus type 5 at non-toxic concentration. The extracts of Chelidonium majus showed great anti viral activity against HSV-1 and partial activity against adenovirus at higher concentrations. Some of the medicinal plants have shown antiviral activity. Further research is needed to elucidate the active constituents of these plants which may be useful in the development of new and effective antiviral agents

Antiviral effect assay of twenty five species of various medicinal plants families in Iran

Medicinal plants have been traditionally used for different kinds of ailments including infectious diseases. There is an increasing need for substances with antiviral activity since the treatment of viral infections with the available antiviral drugs often leads to the problem of viral resistance. There is a need to search for new and more effective antiviral agents. therefore in the present study 20 plants with ethno-medical background from different families were screened for antiviral activity against HSV-1, Adenovirus type 5, Echo virus type 11, Measles virus and Rota virus. Different parts of the plants collected from Iran were extracted with aqueous solvents to obtain crude extracts. These extracts were screened for their cytotoxicity against Vero, BSC-1, Hep-II and RD cell lines by assays micro-culture neutral red dye absorption and microscopically follow up for CPE. Antiviral properties of the plant extracts were determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay and plaque reduction assay. Three plants extract; Aristolochia maurorum, Terminalia chebula Retz. And Cichorium intybus L. exhibited significant antiviral activity against HSV-1 and adenovirus type 5 at a concentration non toxic to the cell lines used. The extracts of Aristolochia maurorum and Cichorium intybus L. showed great anti viral activity against HSV-1 and partial activity against adenovirus at higher concentrations. Some of the medicinal plants have shown antiviral activity. Further research is needed to elucidate the active constituents of these plants which may be useful in the development of new and effective antiviral agents

Distinguishing between primary measles infection and vaccine failure reinfection by IgG avidity assay

In this study in the Islamic Republic of Iran 365 measles cases were evaluated to distinguish between primary infection with measles and reinfection due to secondary vaccine failure. All cases previously confirmed by detection of specific IgM were tested for IgG avidity. A secondary immune response was seen in 18.4% of patients. All unvaccinated patients [16.7%] showed a primary immune response. Of 244 patients with documented vaccination, 75.8% showed a primary immune response and 24.2% showed a secondary immune response, thereby indicating a secondary vaccine failure. Almost all measles reinfections [99%] were seen in patients >10 years old, indicating that vaccination for 10- year- old children is recommended

High prevalence of parvovirus B19 IgG antibody among hemophilia patients attending Shiraz Center for Special Diseases

Human Parvovirus B19, the causative agent of fifth disease in childhood, lacks lipid envelop and is resistant to many physicochemical agents. B19 is a potential risk to hemophiliac patients receiving blood products.The present research is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. To determine the prevalence of the corresponding antibody in patients with hemophilia A or B or Von Willbrand's disease, we tested 180 hemophilia patients for anti B19 IgG. The results were compared with those of 400 age-matched controls subjects [male blood donors and children]. SPSS version 10 and Chisquar were used for data analysis.The overall prevalence of B19 IgG in the hemophilia patients was 74% [133/180] and in thecontrol 56.5% [226/400, p<0.001]. These observations demonstrate that parvovirus B19 is frequently transmitted by bloodproducts. Existing virus-inactivating methods do not prevent transmission

[Measles antibody in previously two dose immunized and reimmunized in school age children]

The aim of this study was to determine measles antibody titer in children who received two doses of vaccine and were reimmunized at 7 years of age. The school children were randomly choosen from various areas of Tehran who had received two doses of measles vaccine at 9 and 15 months of age and reimmunized at 7 years of age. Measles antibody was measured in children aged 7 years and 4-6 weeks after reimmunization by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. A total of 339 children were evaluated. Antibody titers in 132 [38.9%] children were more than 10 IU/ml [mean 68.3 IU/ml] and 207 [61.1%] less than 10 IU/ml. Antibody titers in 32 of 42 children who had been reimmunized were less than 10 IU/ml. In two [6.3%] of 32 children antibody titers did not rise after reimmunization and the mean antibody titer in remainder [30] of the children was 71.3 IU/ml. Antibody titers in 10 [23.8%] of 42 children before and after reimmunization were 58 and 168.5 IU/ml respectively. After reimmunization, the mean antibody titer in children with high titer before reimmunization was higher than those with low antibody titer. This study indicates that children with two dose measles immunization before and after the first year of age are still immunologically resistant against measles at 7 years of age. Immunization is the most efficacious and cost effective intervention available to improve the health and wellbeing of children and prevention of the infectious disease

High prevalence of parvovirus B19 IgG antibody among hemophilia patients in center for special diseases, Shiraz, Iran

Human parvovirus B19, the causative agent of fifth disease in childhood, is non-enveloped DNA virus and resistant to many physicochemical agents. B19 is a potential risk to hemophiliac patients receiving blood products. To determine the prevalence of the corresponding antibody in patients with hemophilia A or B or Von Will brand's disease [VWBD], we tested 180 hemophilia patients aged 1-45 years for anti B19 IgG. This work was descriptive, cross-sectional study. The results were compared with those of 400 age-matched controls, male blood donors and male children [18-45 and 3-17 years of age, respectively]. The overall prevalence of B19 IgG in the hemophilia patients was 74% [133/180], and in the controls 56.5% [226/400, P<0.001]. The significant difference in prevalence of B19 IgG between hemophiliacs and healthy persons demonstrated that there was a high risk of transmission of parvovirus B19 through plasma- derived clotting products. These observations demonstrate that parvovirus B19 is frequently transmitted in blood products. Existing virus-inactivating methods do not prevent transmission

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in Mazandaran Province, Islamic Republic of Iran

We report the prevalence of human papillomavirus [HPV] types in 100 cervical biopsy specimens in Mazandaran province. HPV DNA was detected in 78.6% of cervical carcinoma cases, 64.3% of dys/ metaplasia and 9% of normal cases. Significant correlation was found between the presence of HPV DNA and development of cervical carcinoma. HPV types 16 and 18 were detected in 60.6% of HPV-positive cervical carcinoma cases, whereas HPV31 and 33 were found in 21.2%, and HPV6 and 11 in 18.2%. Among HPV-positive dys/metaplasia cases, 55.6% were positive for HPV16 and 18, 22.3% for HPV6 and 11, and 11.1% for HPV31 and 33. Only HPV6 and 11 were detected in 4 [100%] normal biopsy specimens