Genotype distribution of the GB virus C in citizens of Säo Paulo City, Brazil

There has been several studies worldwide on phylogenetics and genotype distribution of the GB-virus C / Hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV). However, in their great majority, those investigations were based on some epidemiologically linked group, rather than on a representative sampling of the general population. The present is a continuation of the first study in Brazil with such a population; it addresses the GBV-C/HGV phylogenetics and genotype distribution based on samples identified among more than 1,000 individuals of the city of Säo Paulo. For this purpose, a 728 bp fragment of the 5 non-coding region (5 NCR) of the viral genome, from 24 isolates, was sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Genotypes 1, 2a and 2b were found at 8.3 percent (2/24), 50 percent (12/24) and 41.7 percent (10/24), respectively. In conclusion Säo Paulo displays a genotype distribution similar to the published data for other States and Regions of Brazil, endorsing the notion that types 1 and 2 would have entered the country with African and European people, respectively, since its earliest formation

New prevalence estimate of TT virus (TTV) infection in low- and high-risk population from Säo Paulo, Brazil

The prevalence of TT virus (TTV) infection was investigated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in low- (blood donors and healthy children/adolescents) and high-risk (hemophiliacs) groups from Säo Paulo, Brazil. Primers based on the untranslated region (UTR) of the viral genome proved to be much more ubiquitous, leading to much higher frequencies for both groups ( > or = 81 percent) than the earlier N22-PCR directed to the open reading frame 1 (blood donors, 5.5 percent, and hemophiliacs, 42.3 percent). The UTR-PCR also revealed an interesting profile for healthy children/adolescents: very high prevalence at the early years and significant decrease in male teenagers. The N22-PCR, in turn, demonstrated higher frequency in hemophiliacs treated with fresh blood products (58 percent), than in those treated with virus-inactivated clotting factors (9.4 percent) and blood donors (5.5 percent)

TTV: prevalência e caracterizaçäo do novo vírus de DNA transmissível pelo sangue em diferentes populaçöes de São Paulo / TTV: prevalence and phylogenetic characterization of a novel blood-borne DNA virus in different groups from São Paulo, Brazil

A recente descoberta do novo vírus de DNA denominado TT virus (TTV), que foi inicialmente associado à hepatite pós-transfusional não A-G, levou os autores a realizar uma investigação abrangente desta infecção em diferentes populações de São Paulo, envolvendo tanto aspectos clínico-epidemiológicos quanto a caracterização viral. Para tanto, estudou-se indivíduos aparentemente sadios [crianças/adolescentes (n=138) e doadores de sangue (n=401)] e pacientes com coagulopatias (n=130). O TTV foi detectado por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) da região genômica não codificadora de proteína (UTR), sendo sua prevalência extremamente elevada tanto nas crianças e doadores de sangue (81-85 por cento) como nos coagulopatas (98 por cento)...

Chronic hepatitis C virus infections in brazilian patients: association with genotypes, clinical parameters and response to long term alpha interferon therapy

No presente estudo, avaliamos a importancia clinico-epidemiologica da genotipagem do VHC em 130 pacientes com diagnostico histologico de hepatite cronica C e sua influencia na resposta terapeutica sustentada. Nao se observou associacao entre os genotipos e os aspectos clinico-epidemiologicos como sexo, idade, vias de trasmissao, presenca ou nao de cirrose e tempo de infeccao. Dos 130 pacientes, 113 foram submetidos a tratamento com...

Estimated prevalence of viral hepatitis in the general population of the municipality of Säo Paulo, measures by a serologic survey of a stratified, randomized and residence-based population

The present study was done to estimate the prevalence of Hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), and E (HEV) infection in the general population residing in the municipality of Säo Paulo, and to evaluate the level of knowledge related to the various modes of infection transmission by and protection against the different viruses. Blood samples and health questionnaires were collected from 1,059 individuals. The study design used an inductive metod of predictive statistical inferences through randomized sampling stratifield by sex, age and residence region. The estimated prevalence rated found were: Hepatitis A = 66.59 percent (63.75 percent - 69.44 per cent CI); Hepatitis B = 5.94 percent (4.50 percent-7.35 percent); Hepatitis C =1.42 percent (0,70 percent - 2.12 percent); Hepatitis E = 1.68 percent (0.91 percent - 2.46 percent). The frequency of hepatitis was similar in males and females. HAV showed an estimated prevalence of 56.16 percent in the population up to 17 years old, increasing to 65.30 percent in individuals between 18 and 29 years. The infection reached its peak of 90 percent in individuals 40 years of age or older. The study showed a greater tendency of dissemination of HBV among the population between 15 and 17 years. This specific age group showed an estimated prevalence of active infection of 1.04 percent (0.43 percent - 1.65 percent CI), and also demonstrated an ascending level of acquired immunity with an estimated prevalence of 4.90 percent (3.60 percent - 6.20 percent CI). HCV demonstrated an estimated prevalence of 1.42 percent (0.70 percent - 2.12 percent CI). This specific infection occurred more frequently among adults 30 years of age or older, with the prevalence reaching a peak of 3.80 percent among the group aged 50 to 59 years. HEV showed zero prevalence among the age group between 2 and 9 years. This was followed by a slighty ascending rate starting from age 10, with an estimated prevalence of 1.05 percent (0.94 percent - 3.04 percent CI) among those 10 to 14 years of age....