Seroepidemiology and risk factors of hepatitis B virus in Aden, Yemen

There is little published data concerning hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection in Aden and no data concerning risk factors for infection. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and risk factors for infection in Aden, Yemen. A prospective cross sectional survey of individuals attending primary health care facilities was stratified by age and population size. Five hundred and thirty five participants were interviewed and serum was screened for the presence of Immunoglobin G HBV core antibodies [antiHBc]. AntiHBc positive participants were tested for antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]. A case-control analysis of risk factors for HBV was undertaken comparing risk factors between antiHBc positive cases and seronegative controls. The age-standardized seroprevalence for antiHBc was 16.2% [95% confidence interval [CI] 13.1-19.3] and for HBsAg was 1.5% [95% CI 0.5-2.5]. The seroprevalence of antiHBc and HBsAg was estimated to range from 5.5% and 0% in infants to 40% and 4.6% in adults, respectively [p < 0.001]. Age [AOR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.05], household size [>5-9 members, AOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.1-7.6] and ownership of a landline telephone [AOR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.3-5.8] were independent risk factors for HBV infection. HBV is still a public health problem in this community, with older individuals having much higher prevalence than younger generations. The results of this study would categorise Aden as a low HBV endemic zone. Perinatal transmission does not seem to be a major route of transmission

Evidence of human coronavirus-Nl63 infection in Jordanian children

To detect and evaluate the role of the newly recognized human coronavirus [HCoV]-NL63 and HCoV-HKUl as aetiologic agents of acute respiratory tract infections in hospitalized Jordanian children younger than 5 years of age. Between December 2003 and May 2004, a total of 326 nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from Jordanian children hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infections. Total DNA and RNA were extracted using Qiagen commercial kits. HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKUl were detected by random reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using random hexamer primer for the reverse transcription step, and specific primers that target the replicase and polymerase genes to produce 215-bp and 392-bp amplicons respectively. Other potential respiratory pathogens w7ere detected according to previously published protocols. HCoV-NL63 was detected in 4 [1.2%] out of 325 examined nasopharyngeal aspirates. HCoV-NL63 was detected in two children with severe, and in two with mild to moderate acute respiratory tract infections. HCoV-NL63 was the only pathogen detected in three patients, and mixed with adenovirus in one patient. HCoV-HKUl was not detected in the 325 nasopharyngeal aspirates examined. HCoV-NL63 is a significant causative agent of acute respiratory tract infections in hospitalized Jordanian children. HCoV-NL-63 can cause the respiratory disease either alone or in combination with other potential respiratory pathogens. Further studies are required to further characterize the clinical and epidemiological features of these newly recognized HCoVs in Jordan

Characterization of rotavirus strains detected among children and adults with acute gastroenteritis in Gizan, Saudi Arabia

To assess the circulating rotavirus strains among hospitalized children and adults in Gizan City.This cross-sectional study was based in 5 hospitals in the Gizan area. Stool samples were collected between November 2004 and March 2005, from sequential patients with acute, dehydrating diarrhea. Rotavirus antigen was detected in stool by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The diversity of rotavirus strains was investigated using electropherotying and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification of the VP7 and VP4 genes [G and P genotyping]. Rotavirus was detected in 54 of 454 [12%] subjects. The ages of those infected with rotavirus ranged from 15 days to 20 years, with a median age of 36 months. The highest rotavirus detection rate [24%] occurred in children aged 48-59 months. Overall, 50 [93%] of strains could be assigned both a G- and P-type; G1P[8] was the most frequently detected strain type [n=48, 89%] with one rotavirus each of G2P[4] and G9P[8]. Rotavirus strains circulating in Gizan would be well covered by current rotavirus vaccines. Rotavirus serotype G9 has been detected in Saudi Arabia for the first time. Continued surveillance of rotavirus strains is required

Cryptosporidiosis in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries

Cryptosporidium is a coccidian protozoan parasite of the intestinal tract that causes severe and sometimes fatal watery diarrhea in immunocompromised patients, and self-limiting but prolonged diarrheal disease in immunocompetent individuals. It exists naturally in animals and can be zoonotic. Although cryptosporidiosis is a significant cause of diarrheal diseases in both developing and developed countries, it is more prevalent in developing countries and in tropical environments. We examined the epidemiology and disease burden of Cryptosporidium in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries by reviewing 23 published studies of Cryptosporidium and the etiology of diarrhea between 1986 and 2006. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in humans ranged from 1% to 37% with a median of 4%, while in animals it was different for different species of animals and geographic locations of the studies. Most cases of cryptosporidiosis occurred among children less than 7 years of age, and particularly in the first two years of life. The seasonality of Cryptosporidium varied depending on the geographic locations of the studies, but it was generally most prevalent in the rainy season. The most commonly identified species was Cryptosporidium parvum while C. hominis was detected in only one study from Kuwait. The cumulative experience from Saudi Arabia and four neighboring countries [Kuwait, Oman, Jordan and Iraq] suggest that Cryptosporidium is an important cause of diarrhea in humans and cattle. However, the findings of this review also demonstrate the limitations of the available data regarding Cryptosporidium species and strains in circulation in these countries