Viral hepatitis E, zoonotic transmission in Algeria.

Viral hepatitis E, a major cause of acute viral hepatitis in adults, is a global public health problem. The zoonotic potential of the virus is currently accepted in developed countries. In developing countries, where transmission is mainly enteric, data on the animal reservoir are very limited. Our objective was to identify a possible risk of zoonotic transmission in our region (eastern Algeria). Four hundred and thirty four sera from blood donors were analysed by an-ti-HEV IgG antibodies detection using a commercial ELISA kit. Study participants were asked about demographics, contact with farm animals, pets, rats, and with live or shot game during a hunting activity. The anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence was 17.05%. Two risk factors were identified; rat contact with a seroprevalence rate at 51.2% (p < 1p.1000), OR = 6.736 [95% CI 3, 42-13.26] and game contact with a seroprevalence at 33% (p = 0.003), OR = 2.76 [95% CI 1.37-5.56]. In summary, zoonotic transmission is possible in our region. Rats and game should be investigated for a probable animal reservoir.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus among blood donors in eastern Algeria.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is recognized worldwide as the leading cause of orofecal-transmitted hepatitis. However, blood transmission has been increasingly implicated in recent years raising health concerns. In Algeria, updated prevalence data are lacking. We aimed to determine the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in the sera of volunteer blood donors from the Setif region in eastern Algeria. A total of 434 Samples were analyzed for anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Wantai). Logistic regression modelling was used to identify associated risk factors. The IgG seroprevalence rate was 17.05%. Seven sera (0.16%) were weakly positive for IgM. No HEV RNA was detected. The IgG prevalence was significantly correlated with increasing age (p < 1p.1000). Our data demonstrate a relatively high prevalence of anti-HEV IgG, indicating a possible risk of HEV blood transmission which requires vireamic seroprevalence studies to assess the real risk.

Time trends of cancer incidence in Setif, Algeria, 1986-2010: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Incidence rates of various cancers are increasing in Arab countries and are expected to reach those of industrialized ones in few decades. This paper aimed to describe the incidence rates of most common cancers--and/or of those cancer preventable through modifiable behaviors--recorded in the province of Setif, Algeria from 1986 through 2010. METHODS: Cancer diagnoses for the 1986-2010 period were provided by the population-based Cancer Registry of Setif, disentangled by site, morphology, age (quinquennia), sex, and calendar period. The corresponding population was obtained from the Algerian Institute of Statistics. Age-standardized rates (world population) (ASR-WR) were computed by calendar period (five quinquennias from 1986-1990 to 2006-2010), while annual percent changes (APCs) were computed for the period 1996-2010. RESULTS: During the 2006-2010 period, ASR-WR for all cancer sites were 106.4/100,000 in men and 110.3 in women. The four leading cancers were: lung (18.0%); colon-rectum (9.6%); bladder (9.1%); and prostate (6.5%) in men; breast (36.4%); colon-rectum (8.5%); cervix uteri (6.0%); and thyroid (6.0%) in women. Between 1996-2010, overall cancer incidence increased statistically significantly (p < 0.05) in both men (APC = +2.5%) and women (APC = +3.7%). Statistically significant decreasing trends were observed for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (APC = -3.4%) in men, and for cervical (APC = -4.2%) and gallbladder (APC = -3.2%) cancers in women. Statistically significant increasing trends were observed for most common cancers both in men (lung:+1.8%, colon-rectum:+5.4%, prostate:+4.3%, liver:+8.9%, and bladder:+5.9%) and women (breast:+8.2%, colon-rectum:+4.5%, lung:+10.0%, liver:+5.4%, thyroid:+5.3%, and larynx:+13.8%). CONCLUSIONS: International recommendations against cancer must be strongly promoted in Setif after taking into account epidemiological transition, lifestyle, and environmental changes.

Overview of cervical cancer screening practices in the extended Middle East and North Africa countries.

National Organized Cervical Cancer Screening (NOCCS) programs are lacking in most of the "Extended Middle East and North Africa" (EMENA) countries. Consequently, most cervical cancers are diagnosed late and are associated with high mortality. In fact, in most of these countries, national mortality data are unknown due to the absence of population-based mortality registries. Most countries of the EMENA practice more or less limited opportunistic, cytology-based, screening tests, which often lack quality assurance and follow-up care. A few countries, within the initiation of a National Cancer Control Plan, have just started to implement organized screening programs using, for cervical cancer detection, visual inspection with acetic acid (Morocco) or cytology (Turkey). Moreover, most countries of the EMENA lack national guideline, as well as resources for the management of abnormal cytologic screening (or any other screening test). The main obstacle for the implementation of NOCCS is a lack of political understanding to support such public health programs and provide the necessary resources. Other obstacles that hinder the participation of women in cervical screening include a lack of knowledge of the disease, socio-religious and cultural barriers, and geographic and economic difficulties in accessing medical services. These countries are already convinced that prevention of cervical cancers in women who have cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is possible through various screening and treatment algorithms, but most countries still need to invest in well organized programs that can reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality in women. This article forms part of a regional report entitled "Comprehensive Control of HPV Infections and Related Diseases in the Extended Middle East and North Africa Region" Vaccine Volume 31, Supplement 6, 2013. Updates of the progress in the field are presented in a separate monograph entitled "Comprehensive Control of HPV Infections and Related Diseases" Vaccine Volume 30, Supplement 5, 2012.