ABSTRACT
Using a metagenomic approach, we identified hepatitis A virus among cases of acute febrile illnesses that occurred in 2008-2012 in Brazil suspected as yellow fever. These findings reinforce the challenge facing routine clinical diagnosis in complex epidemiological scenarios.
Subject(s)
Humans , Yellow Fever/diagnosis , Hepatitis A/diagnosis , Yellow Fever/epidemiology , Yellow fever virus/genetics , Brazil/epidemiology , Metagenomics , Genotype , Hepatitis A/epidemiology , Hepatitis Viruses/geneticsABSTRACT
In the present study, epidemiological survey and molecular characterization of hepatitis A virus during an outbreak in five Tunisian childcare centers in El-Mahres during October and November 2006 were carried out. Five well-water and five drinking water samples were included in the present study. Serological investigation and molecular characterization were carried out. All patients were IgM seropositive and the viral genome was detected in all clinical and well-water samples whereas it was not detected in drinking water from the five childcare centers. Sequence analysis showed that all Tunisian strains belong to sub-genotype IA. The genetic profile of the VP1/2A junction showed that the outbreak isolates underwent an amino acid substitution which was absent in virus's strains detected previously in Tunisia. Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate the emergence of the virus's strains in clinical and water samples and more epidemiological data need to be collected about the risk factors which may contribute to acute hepatitis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Disease Outbreaks , Immunoglobulin M , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Sequence Analysis, Protein , Hepatitis Viruses/genetics , Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures , Methods , Patients , Water SamplesABSTRACT
Sera from 269 Hmong people (102 males and 167 females, with mean age 35.4 years, range 16-63 years) were examined in order to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis virus infection. The seroprevalence rates for HAV (hepatitis A virus), HBV (hepatitis B virus), HCV (hepatitis C virus), HDV (hepatitis D virus), HEV (hepatitis E virus), HGV (hepatitis G virus) and TTV (TT virus) infection were 87.8% (n=140), 76.0% (n=150), 2.0% (n=150), 0.7% (n=150), 6.5% (n=139), 5.3% (n=94) and 25.6% (n=121) respectively. The rate for carriers of HBV (HBsAg) was 13.8% (20.5% in males and 9.6% females) with a peak prevalence in the 21-40 year age group. A high rate of HAV seropositivity was found among the younger subjects. The rate of HEV seroprevalence was low. The prevalence of TTV-DNA was high with no difference between the sexes. HGV-RNA prevalence was low and seen primarily in males. This study indicates that the Hmong people are endemically infected with HAV and HBV infection and should be considered for targeted vaccination. The role of TTV and HGV in producing illness and hepatic disease has yet to be determined in this population.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Carrier State/ethnology , Child , DNA, Viral/analysis , Endemic Diseases/prevention & control , Female , GB virus C/genetics , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepatitis A virus/genetics , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Hepatitis Viruses/genetics , Hepatitis, Viral, Human/ethnology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , RNA, Viral/analysis , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sex Distribution , Thailand/epidemiology , Torque teno virus/genetics , VaccinationABSTRACT
Recentemente foi possivel codificar o genoma de um dos virus NANB, chamado virus da hepatite C(VHC). Trata-se de virus com diametro entre 30 a 60 nm, com cobertura lipidica e RNA de cadeia simples, o VHC e o responsavel por aproximadamente 80% das HPT e em torno de 50 a 70% das HNANB esporadicas. O teste atual para a deteccao do anticorpo ao virus C, apesar de representar inegavel avanco no conhecimento das hepatites, deve ser utilizado com certas reservas, pois pode dar falsos-positivos, alem de nao ser capaz de detectar infeccoes agudas em fase inicial