Epstein-barr virus in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. Many diseases are associated with Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] infection, such as infectious mononucleosis and many types of malignancies, and it is thought to be related to some diseases of autoimmune origin, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis, and others. The present study aimed to assess EBV in patients with MS. This case-control study was conducted from October 2012 to September 2013 on 75 MS patients and non-MS controls. Both were tested quantitatively for immunoglobulin G [IgG] antibodies against Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 [EBNA1] and viral capsid antigen [VCA] using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique. Seventy MS patients [93.3%] were positive for EBNA1 IgG compared with 68 controls [90.7%]. In MS patients, the mean EBNA1 IgG serum level was 310.91 [ +/- 131.05] U/ml; meanwhile, among controls the mean serum EBNA IgG level was 177.81 [ +/- 104.98] U/ml. All patients with MS were positive for VCA IgG, whereas only 60 [80.0%] controls were positive. In the MS group, the VCA IgG mean level was 302.19 [ +/- 152.11] U/ml compared with 167.94 [ +/- 111.79] U/ml in controls. The differences in the serum levels of both markers between the two groups were statistically significant [P<0.001]. EBV proved to have a unique immunological pattern in MS patients when compared with non-MS controls. Further studies for more confirmation of the relation between EBV and MS on a large scale are recommended

Performance of a rapid test versus real-time PCR for diagnosis of H1N1 swine flu

For effective control and treatment of swine influenza, rapid and cost-effective diagnosis is important. Although the gold-standard method for the diagnosis of influenza virus is culture isolation, it is not routinely used in outpatient settings because of the cost and the time needed to complete the assay. This has led to the development of an array of rapid influenza diagnostic tests. The aim of this study was to compare between the performance of CerTest Swine Flu card and RT-PCR in the detection of H1N1 infection. This study included 40 clinically suspected cases of H1N1. Nasal and throat swabs were collected from patients, placed in viral transport medium, and kept at 4[degree]C until being tested on the same day for the presence of H1N1, using the CerTest Swine Flu test and real-time PCR. Of these 40 suspected cases, seven [17.5%] were found to be positive by the PCR technique, whereas 33 [82.5%] were found to be negative. Of the seven positive cases by the PCR technique, six were found to be positive by the rapid test, and thus the sensitivity of the rapid test was found to be 85.7%, and the specificity was 100%.CerTest Swine Flu card rapid test was found to have reliable sensitivity and specificity compared with the gold-standard RT-PCR

Occult hepatitis B virus infection among hepatitis C virus seropositive and seronegative blood donors in Alexandria, Egypt

Background and aims: Occult hepatitis B virus infection [OBI, serum hepatitis B surface antigen negative but hepatitis B virus DNA positive] is an emerging problem in the safety of blood transfusion. The introduction of hepatitis B surface antigen in the screening panel for blood bank donors has substantially reduced, but not entirely eliminated, the risk of hepatitis B virus infection. It has been suggested that infection with hepatitis C virus may inhibit hepatitis B virus replication. Therefore, this study aimed at estimating the prevalence and risk factors for OBI among blood donors and determining its relationship with hepatitis C virus infection

Subjects and methods: Presence of hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis C virus RNA was investigated for among 508 hepatitis B surface antigen-negative blood donors in Alexandria, Egypt. Half of the donors were identified as hepatitis C virus antibody reactive

Results: OBI was detected in 21 donors [4.1%] from the studied population: eight were among hepatitis C virus antibody positive donors [3.2%], among whom seven [33.3%] had hepatitis C virus RNA in their serum, and 13 [5.1%] were among hepatitis C virus antibody negative donors, with no statistically significant difference. The only significant risk factor for OBI among the studied blood donors was visiting local barbers

Conclusion and recommendations: OBI is a considerable risk in blood banks, making screening for hepatitis B virus infection only on the basis of surface antigenemia insufficient

Serological detection of rotavirus among children with diarrhea in relation to different environmental conditions

Rotaviruses are the single most important etiologic agents of severe diarrhea of infants and young children worldwide. In the present study, serological detection of rotavirus was done using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], on 247 stool specimens. These were collected from children with acute diarrhea attending the outpatient clinic of Alexandria University Children's Hospital at El-Shatby, from October 2005 to April 2007. Rotavirus was detected in 33.6% of the collected samples; no specific age group or sex predilection was observed. It was presented with a marked seasonal peak during autumn and winter [58.3% and 40.5%, respectively]. Rotavirus was found to be infecting most commonly under-weight children [46.9%] resulting into fluid loss and severe dehydration [80%]. Rotavirus acute gastroenteritis was found to be associated with fever [38.8%], vomiting [39.9%], watery stools, and long duration of diarrheal episodes lasting from one up to six days. The appearance of convulsions among rotavirus-positive cases even in the absence of fever [84.6%] was an important finding. Exclusive formula-fed infants appeared to exhibit the highest disease incidence [50%] while exclusive breast-fed infants had a lower incidence level [35.2%] of the disease. The virus was found to be significantly affecting children living in rural areas of Egypt [43.8%] rather than urban ones [26.1%]. Environmental factors that were shown to affect the disease incidence include: the presence of impurities in water [41.6%], broken pipes [58.1%] and water tanks [58.7%] at the residence place. On the other hand, neither the kind of water source nor the presence of a sewage-disposal network was significantly related to the disease. Therefore the study recommended to screen for rotavirus in children with diarrhea in order to avoid the use of unnecessary medications. In addition, encouragement of breast feeding practices and improvement of environmental conditions are important means of prevention of rotavirus infection

Investigation of the antimicrobial activity and insight into the physicochemical properties of honey from Egypt

The present study investigated the carbohydrate composition and the pollen content of the mostly produced and consumed honeys in Egypt and correlated these to their antimicrobial effect. Honey samples [clover, citrus, black seed and sider] were collected from beekeepers and/or markets depending on their availability. They were tested for physiochemical and sugar composition. Moreover, they were tested undiluted, and at 75, 50, 30 and 10% [w/v] dilution against Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus], Bacillus cereus [B. cereus], Escherichia coli [E. coli] and Candida albicans [C. albicans] to detect their antimicrobial activity using the agar well diffusion assay. Results indicated that all samples were complying with codex 1998, 2001, European standard 2002 and Egyptian standard 2005, regarding their physicochemical parameters, but 62.5% were complying regarding their carbohydrate composition. According to pollen contents, all honey samples belonged to the class I of representivity [under-represented honeys, with less than 20,000 pollen/10g honey]. Locally produced honeys were found to have activity against the tested pathogenic bacteria however, the greatest inhibition was seen at the undiluted form of honeys. Only Candida albicans was not inhibited. Pollen contents affected the antibacterial activity of honey, the higher the pollen, the higher is the antibacterial activity

West Nile virus existence in humans and mosquitoes in Alexandria Governorate

West Nile virus [WNV] is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbo-virus belonging to the genus flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of WNV in human cases with fever of unknown etiology and to study the immune status to WNV among healthy humans. In addition, the prevalence of WNV in Culex mosquito vectors was estimated. The study included 210 patients [with undiagnosed acute febrile illness for more than 2 days; admitted to Alexandria Fever Hospital during a period of one year], 200 healthy humans [volunteer blood donors accepted for donation at Alexandria Regional Blood Bank] and 200 mosquito pools [from six administrative districts of Alexandria]. WNV antibodies of the 1gM and lgG types were detected in patients and healthy humans using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], respectively. WNV was detected in mosquito by virus isolation on Vero cell culture. WNV 1gM antibodies were detected in 56 [26.7%] patients, while WNV lgG antibodies were detected in 42 [21%] out of the 200 healthy humans. WNV was isolated from 27 [13.5%] out of the 200 mosquito pools. Patients in the age groups 20- and 40- had the highest percentages of WNV 1gM antibodies. The highest WNV gM antibodies positivity rates occurred in spring and in fall seasons. Male samples had significantly higher percentage of the IgG antibodies than female samples [25.6%Vs 13.3%]. Conclusion: WNV should not be overlooked in diagnosis of fevers as the main problem may be not due to the disease itself but the economic consequences from the hospitalization of indeclinable numbers of patients. WN disease can be difficult to monitor; almost unpredictable and appearing unexpectedly, this disease has to be surveyed and the viral circulation rapidly detected so that the sanitary authorities can take protective measures

TT virus among blood donors in Alexandria

TTV is a non enveloped, single-stranded, circular- DNA virus that has been assigned to the Family Circiniviridae. The primary mode of TTV transmission was proposed to be transfusion [and hence its name]. Little is known about the clinical significance and the natural history of TTV infection. Hence, responsibility of the virus for specific liver disease is still debated. In our study, we tested ninety five blood donors attending Kom El-Decka regional blood bank in Alexandria for the presence of TTV DNA in their sera by PCR technique. The same samples were tested for ALT and AST levels by colorimetric technique and for HBsAg and anti-HCV by the ELISA technique. Out of the 95 blood donors, 46 [48.4%] had TTV DNA in their sera. None of the 95 blood donors included in this study was positive for HBsAg, while 22 [23.2%] were anti-HCV positive. Out of the 22 anti-HCV positive blood donors, 13 [59.1%] were TTV DNA positive, while out of the 73 anti-HCV negative blood donors, 33 [45.2%] had TTV DNA in their sera. There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of TTV DNA and anti-HCV in blood donors. No biochemical evidence of liver disease potentially linked to the TTV infection was observed in our blood donors who were TTV DNA positive. Furthermore, the occurrence of elevated serum AST and ALT was most often linked to HCV rather than TTV

Detection of coagulase positive staphylococci in meat products sold in Alexandria using two different media

Microbiological examination of 200 meat products collected from 30 supermarkets in Alexandria revealed that CHRO Magar Staph aureus yielded higher counts than Baird Parker medium that were significant in all examined products except sausage. The prevalence of coagulase positive staphylococci was 4%, moreover CHRO Magar Staph aureus showed higher recovery rate and specificity [87.5% and 98.9%; respectively] than Baird Parker medium [50.0% and 15.6%; respectively] during their detection. Sanitary evaluation of the supermarkets revealed that all of them were acceptable regarding prevention of bacterial growth parameter, although their mean score was only 55%. Avoidance of contamination parameter had the lowest mean score percent [15.6 +/- 27.3] with only about seven percent of the inspected supermarkets being acceptable. Although all recruited food handlers were apparently healthy, in few supermarkets, handlers were wearing clean light colored uniform [6.7%] and gloves [3.3%]. Despite the presence of hand washing basins in all supermarkets, few of them were provided with hot water [6.7%] and detergents were available in 30% of them. Improvement of the sanitary conditions under which meat products are handled in the supermarkets is a must, also, improving the selectivity of CHRO Magar Staph aureus in addition to both specificity and recovery rates of Baird Parker medium is recommended

Hepatitis B vaccination in hemodialysis patients: protective level of HBV antibodies could be achieved by the ordinary schedule?

Hepatits B vaccine is effective in producing protection against hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection in hemodialysis [HD] patients, but the antibody response is variable, so different vaccine regimens were adopted. The aim of the present work is to assess the immune response to HBV vaccine in 67 HD patients receiving 20 micro g of recombinant HBV vaccine / dose for 3 doses, intramuscularly [IM], at 0, 1, and 6- month intervals, compared with 36 medical staff members in the same unit as control receiving the same regimen. The results showed the presence of anti-HBc antibodies in 34 patients and 11 control subjects, those were exculded from the study so as to assess the effect of the vaccine only and not the natural infection. The antibody response is defined as protective when the level of anti-HBs antibodies exceeds or equals to 10 mlU/ml. The response rate was significantly lower in HD patients [51.5%] than in control subjects [96%] [P= 0.0002]. To months after the last dose of the vaccine the difference in seroprotection rate was insigificant being 62.5% in HD patients versus 66.7% in the control [P = 0.89], while after 6 and 12 months, the difference was statistically significant being 56.3%, 33.3% in HD patients versus 100%, and 100% in the control subjects respectively [P = 0.003, 0.006]. On the whole, the levels of anti-HBs, expressed as geometric mean titres and 95% confidence intervals [GMT [95% Cl]], were non-significantly lower in HD patients 125.64 [58.37-269.99] mlU/ml, than controls 239.67 [137.88-416.63] mlU/ml respectively [P = 0.149]. The gender, age, cause of renal failure, HCV co-infection, duration of HD, HD frequency, dialyzer membrane and dialysate buffer did not show a significant influence on the response to HBV vaccine. There were significant positive correlations between the level of anti-HBs antibodies and both serum albumin and predialysis urea [P = 0.00] indicating the improtant role of malnutrition on the poor response to the vaccine in HD patients. From this study it was concluded that the ordinary three-doses regimen is not enough for protection in a good proportion of HD patients, and other regimens should be assessed