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Hepatitis E virus (HEV) variants infecting humans belong to two species: Paslahepevirus balayani (bHEV) and Rocahepevirus ratti (rat hepatitis E virus; rHEV). R. ratti is a ubiquitous rodent pathogen that has recently been recognized to cause hepatitis in humans. Transmission routes of rHEV from rats to humans are currently unknown. In this study, we examined rHEV exposure in cats and dogs to determine if they are potential reservoirs of this emerging human pathogen. Virus-like particle-based IgG enzymatic immunoassays (EIAs) capable of differentiating rHEV & bHEV antibody profiles and rHEV-specific real-time RT-PCR assays were used for this purpose. The EIAs could detect bHEV and rHEV patient-derived IgG spiked in dog and cat sera. Sera from 751 companion dogs and 130 companion cats in Hong Kong were tested with these IgG enzymatic immunoassays (EIAs). Overall, 13/751 (1.7%) dogs and 5/130 (3.8%) cats were sero-reactive to HEV. 9/751 (1.2%) dogs and 2/130 (1.5%) cats tested positive for rHEV IgG, which was further confirmed by rHEV immunoblots. Most rHEV-seropositive animals were from areas in or adjacent to districts reporting human rHEV infection. Neither 881 companion animals nor 652 stray animals carried rHEV RNA in serum or rectal swabs. Therefore, we could not confirm a role for cats and dogs in transmitting rHEV to humans. Further work is required to understand the reasons for low-level seropositivity in these animals.
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Cat Diseases , Dog Diseases , Hepatitis E virus , Hepatitis E , Animals , Cats , Dogs , Humans , Rats , Hepatitis E virus/genetics , Hong Kong , Animals, Wild , Pets , Immunoglobulin GABSTRACT
Hepatitis D is a severe form of viral hepatitis caused by co-infection with hepatitis D virus (HDV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) or superinfection of HDV in HBV carriers. There is still a huge gap in the diagnosis of hepatitis D due to insufficient emphasis on this disease for a long time. With the advances in related studies in recent years, the academia and the medical industry have gradually realized the harm of hepatitis D, and meanwhile, breakthroughs in drug development have also brought new opportunities for the treatment or even cure of hepatitis D. These advances greatly increase the demand for the diagnosis of hepatitis D. HDV antibodies are the key markers for the diagnosis of hepatitis D. This article summarizes and compares the detection methods for HDV antibodies including total HDV antibodies, IgG, and IgM and discusses related important issues, so as to understand the current status of the detection of HDV antibodies and provide a reference for developing better diagnostic tools for hepatitis D.
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Objective: To study serum HCV antibody (anti-HCV) with geographic distribution characteristics in Zhejiang Province. Methods: A stratified random cluster sampling method was used. Serum samples of the surveyed population were collected from selected hospitals, anti-HCV antibodies were examined, then hepatitis C infection rates among different genders, regions and age groups were analyzed. The anti-HCV rate was compared using the χ (2) test. Results: The average anti-HCV positive rate in Zhejiang Province was 0.24% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16% ~ 0.32%]. The antibody positive rate in the plain area was 0.32% (95% CI: 0.19% ~ 0.45%), which was significantly higher than the coastal islands 0.05%(95% CI: 0.00% ~ 0.12%, χ (2) = 7.638, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between plain area and hilly area 0.22% (95% CI: 0.03% - 0.41%). There was no statistically significant difference in anti-HCV positive rates between males and females (χ (2) = 2.238, P = 0.135). The highest positive rate of anti-HCV (0.93%) was in the population aged 56-60 years and the lowest in the population aged less than 20 years. Anti-HCV positive rate of all age groups in 2017 was lower than that of 2006 seroepidemiological study of hepatitis C. Conclusion: Zhejiang Province is a region with low anti-HCV positive rate and the disease prevalence further reduced than 10 years ago. The positive rate of anti-HCV in plain areas is higher than islands. Middle-aged and elderly people are the age group with high prevalence, and the anti-HCV positive rate in people under 20 years old is exceptionally low. Gender differences in anti-HCV positive rate have little effect.
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Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , China/epidemiology , Female , Hepatitis C/blood , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
Objective@#To study serum HCV antibody (anti-HCV) with geographic distribution characteristics in Zhejiang Province.@*Methods@#A stratified random cluster sampling method was used. Serum samples of the surveyed population were collected from selected hospitals, anti-HCV antibodies were examined, then hepatitis C infection rates among different genders, regions and age groups were analyzed. The anti-HCV rate was compared using the χ 2 test.@*Results@#The average anti-HCV positive rate in Zhejiang Province was 0.24% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16% ~ 0.32%]. The antibody positive rate in the plain area was 0.32% (95% CI: 0.19% ~ 0.45%), which was significantly higher than the coastal islands 0.05%(95% CI: 0.00% ~ 0.12%, χ 2 = 7.638, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between plain area and hilly area 0.22% (95% CI: 0.03% - 0.41%). There was no statistically significant difference in anti-HCV positive rates between males and females (χ 2 = 2.238, P = 0.135). The highest positive rate of anti-HCV (0.93%) was in the population aged 56-60 years and the lowest in the population aged less than 20 years. Anti-HCV positive rate of all age groups in 2017 was lower than that of 2006 seroepidemiological study of hepatitis C.@*Conclusion@#Zhejiang Province is a region with low anti-HCV positive rate and the disease prevalence further reduced than 10 years ago. The positive rate of anti-HCV in plain areas is higher than islands. Middle-aged and elderly people are the age group with high prevalence, and the anti-HCV positive rate in people under 20 years old is exceptionally low. Gender differences in anti-HCV positive rate have little effect.
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ABSTRACT Introduction: Infections caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are a major public health problem. Objectives: The study aimed to detect HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV among health professionals and users of the Brazilian Unified Health System [Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS)] in the city of Resende, Rio de Janeiro, and to describe the sociodemographic profile and background of exposure. Methods: A total of 585 samples were collected between May and June 2014, obtained from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System [Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN)] data, which were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV. Results: The predominant age group observed was 30-44 years (n = 277; 47.3%), 54.87% (n = 321) were female and 271 (46.32%) self declared skin colour/ethnicity white. The married participants were 262 (44.78%), 42.22% graduated from high school (n = 247) and 174 were health professionals (29.74%). Four participants were anti-HCV reagents and 18 were anti-HBc reagents. From these, 15 participants were reactive for anti-HBs antibodies. Among health professionals, 68.8% were anti-HBs positive. And 63.9% of participants declared to be vaccinated against hepatitis B. Conclusion: The prevalence of 0.68% for HCV and 3.08% for anti-HBc are below that detected in the Southeast region from the last census in the capitals of Brazil. There is still a reduced acceptance among health professionals for HBV and HCV screening.
RESUMO Introdução: As infecções causadas pelo vírus da hepatite B (VHB) e C (VHC) constituem grave problema de saúde pública. Objetivos: O estudo visou detectar os marcadores HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs e anti-VHC em profissionais de saúde e usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no município de Resende, Rio de Janeiro, bem como descrever o perfil sociodemográfico e os antecedentes de exposição. Métodos: Foram avaliadas 585 amostras entre maio e junho de 2014, obtidas dos dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Elas foram testadas para HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs e anti-VHC. Resultados: A faixa etária predominante observada foi de 30-44 anos (n = 277; 47,3%); 54,87% (n = 321) eram do sexo feminino e 271 (46,32%) se autodeclararam de cor da pele/etnia branca. Os participantes casados foram 262 (44,78%); 42,22% tinham o ensino médio (n = 247) e 174 eram profissionais de saúde (29,74%). Quatro participantes eram anti-VHC reagentes e 18, reagentes para anti-HBc. Destes, 15 eram anti-HBs reagentes (aHBs+). Nos profissionais de saúde, 68,8% possuem aHbs+. Em relação à vacinação contra hepatite B, 63,9% declararam possuí-la. Conclusão: As prevalências 0,68% de VHC e de 3,08% de anti-HBc estão abaixo da detectada na região Sudeste no último censo nas capitais do Brasil. Há ainda reduzida adesão dos profissionais de saúde à testagem para VHB e VHC.
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Objective To investigate the correlation between serum HCV-RNA level and anti-HCV with liver fibrosis indexes in the patients with chronic hepatitis C.Methods The serum samples were collected in 96 cases of chronic hepatitis C.The HCV-RNA level was determined by real time fluorescence quantification PCR and Anti-HCV was detected by ELISA.LN,PCⅢ and CⅣlevels were detected by the electrochemical iuminescence analyzer and HA was examined by radioimmunoassay(RIA).The correla-tion between the HCV-RNA and Anti-HCV levels with the liver fibrosis indexes was analyzed with the statistic software.Results Among these 96 cases of Anti-HCV positive chronic hepatitis C,52 cases (54.2%)were HCV-RNA positive.With increasing of the S/CO value of Anti-HCV,the detection rate of HCV-RNA was increased,which were 9.5%,37.1% and 92.5%.The differ-ences in HA,LN,PCⅢ and CⅣ levels between the high viral load group and the low viral load group had no statistical significance (P >0.05).Conclusion The positive detection rate of HCV-RNA is related with the S/CO value of Anti-HCV,the higher the S/CO value,the higher the positive detection rate of HCV-RNA.But the HCV-RNA level has no correlation with the liver fibrosis in-dexes.
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BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that some viral infections may be triggers for autoimmune diseases. The role of viral infections in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus has also been investigated. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between pemphigus and the hepatitis B and C virus infections. METHODS: This retrospective study included 62 patients with pemphigus and 50 healthy controls of matching ages and genders. The control group included relatives who accompanied the orthopedic patients to the hospital but had no history of systemic and/or autoimmune diseases. RESULTS: The group of patients with pemphigus was composed of 43 (69.3%) females and 19 (29.7%) males, and the mean age was 48.08 ± 15.38. The hepatitis C virus antibody was negative in all of the patients. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), or both, were studied in 44 of the 62 patients. Two (4.3%) of these patients were positive for HBsAg and found to have HBV infection. Fourteen of them were HBsAb positive. Two (4%) of the 50 control subjects showed hepatitis C virus antibody positivity, while only 1 (2%) patient with pemphigus displayed HBsAg positivity. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for hepatitis B and C virus infections. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support an association between pemphigus and hepatitis B and/or C virus infections. .
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Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Hepatitis B/complications , Hepatitis C/complications , Pemphigus/virology , Case-Control Studies , Hepatitis B Antibodies/analysis , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis C Antibodies/analysis , Hepatitis C/immunology , Pemphigus/immunology , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
Objective To determine antiturbulent effect of the third-generation anti-HCV ELISA kit.Methods Anti-HCV ELISA kits from domestic and foreign manufacturer were used to detect the samles.Thost samples with positive results obtained using different anti-HCV ELISA kits from five manufacturers were further tested by HCV BLOT to determine which result would be true.Then RT-PCR would be done on the samples with anti-HCV “Indeterminate” by HCV BLOT.Results False positive rate of five kinds of anti-HCV ELISA kits on 268 selected weak positive samples were 0.37%～12.68%.The results from different anti-HCV ELISA kits showed markedly inconsistent.If any two kinds were combined to detect the samples,the false positive rates declined 0～2.2%(P
