RUSSIA: A=90%,B=36%,C= 9%,D=70%,E=14%,G= 8%,T=13%, HIV=.05% AIDS= 290 cases

[Guest guest]

RUSSIA

------------

Population = 146 million people

6th most populated Nation

% of Russian population with a virus

--------------------------------------------------

HAV = 90%

HBV = 36%

HCV = 9%

HDV = 70%

HEV = 14%

HGV = 8%

TTV = 13%

------

Total= 240%

HIV = 0.05%

HIV = 40,000 cases

AIDS = 290 cases

HAV

------

1995 - HAV - Contaminated - Factor VIII - An outbreak of hepatitis A among

South African patients with hemophilia: evidence implicating contaminated

factor VIII concentrate as the source. Hepatology. 1995 Nov;22(5):1363-7.

PMID: 7590648; UI: 96054950.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 1982 May;(5):34-7

[Antibodies to the hepatitis A virus in the healthy population of Moscow].

[Article in Russian] Savinskaia SS, Tolskaia EA, Balaian MS

Serum specimens collected from 1002 persons in Moscow were tested for the

presence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV antibodies) by

solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. The prevalence of these antibodies increased

progressively with age from 10% in children aged 5-9 years to

over 90% in the age groups of 40-49 years and over,

the 50% immunity level being established at the age of 18 years. 79% of

infants under 1 year were found to be immune, which was obviously due to the

placental transfer of antibodies from mother to child. In a considerable

part of seropositive persons over 30 years high or medium antibody titers

were detected. These age groups showed a stable proportion of the low,

medium and high level of anti-HAV antibodies. The prevalence of such

antibodies was not related to sex. The presence of an ample amount of

anti-HAV antibodies was determined in all of 18 tested lots of commercial

serum immunoglobulin obtained from 3 different manufacturers.

PMID: 6285646, UI: 82252812

HBV

------

Vopr Virusol 1999 Nov-Dec;44(6):284-6

[No title available].[Article in Russian]

Sera from 926 patients were analyzed by PCR using universal primers to

surface gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV DNA was detected in 195

specimens. There were

no serological markers of HBV in 8.2% [91.8%= 92%]

of these sera,

but later they were detected in patients' sera. In patients without HBV DNA

in the serum, specific HBV antigens and antibodies were detected in 62%.

Only in 14% of them the clinical picture of the disease corresponded to

acute viral hepatitis, although the blood for PCR analysis was collected

during the late stages of the infection. The rest cases were referred to

mixed hepatitis C + D. Comparison of the results of PCR test and detection

of serological virus replication markers HBeAg and HBeAb showed the presence

of HBV DNA in 28% cases without HBeAg. PMID: 10665067, UI: 20128452

Epidemiol Infect 1999 Feb;122(1):139-43

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and GB virus-C

infections in Siberia.

Ohba K, Mizokami M, Kato T, Ueda R, Gurtsenvitch V, Senyuta N, Syrtsev A,

Zoya K, Yamashita M, Hayami M

Second Department of Medicine, Nagoya City University Medical School,

Kawasumi, Mizuho, Japan.

We studied the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus

(HCV) and GB virus-C (GBV-C) infections in 348 Siberian natives who lived in

the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia. Of 348 samples studied, the

seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 11.8% (41 of 348 samples) and

35.9% [36%]

(125 of 348 samples), respectively. The prevalence of HCV infection was 1.4%

(5 of 348 samples), and that of GBV-C RNA, using RT-PCR methods, was 7.5%

(26 of 348 samples).

In Siberia, the prevalences of

HBV and GBV-C infections were about tenfold higher than those in Japan.

The prevalence of HBsAg in subjects under 50 years of age was significantly

higher than that in those over 50 years old (P < 0.05). Because HBV

infection is highly endemic in Siberia, we propose that the community-based

mass immunization must be conducted as soon as possible in this area.

PMID: 10098797, UI: 99196433

Oftalmologia 1997;41(4):318-22

The role of HBV-infection in development of cataracts in children and

adults.

Cushnir VN, Slepova OS, Cruglova TB, Dumbrava VA, Cushnir RI, Zaitseva NS,

Vovk EM

Ophthalmology Department, State Medical University by name of N.

Testemitianu, Republic of Moldova.

Possible role of intrauterine HBV infection in the formation of congenital

non-hereditary cataracts is testified by discoveries of HBV markers in lens

masses, aqueous humor of the anterior chamber and blood serum of the

operated children and in blood of mother. We consider the patients with

chronic diffuse liver diseases of

HBV etiology to be a risk group of post capsular cataracts'

formation. The development of these cataracts is associated with the

progress of the basic liver disease. Among practically healthy persons, the

initial lens changes are more often observed in carriers of australian

antigen. Early signs of lens diseases in children and young or middle-aged

adults determine the social meaning of this problem and reasons for the

regular ophthalmologic check-up of patients with virus liver diseases and

somatically healthy virus carriers.

PMID: 9361491, UI: 98027480

Ter Arkh 1995;67(11):13-5

[The characteristics of the epidemic process in hepatitis B, C and D in

hemodialysis units and the experience of the vaccinal prevention of HB viral

infection in a delimited population].

[Article in Russian] Savin EA, Vasil'ev AN, Paskonkina OV, Os'mirko TV

Patients and medical staff of hemodialysis centers were screened for HBV,

HCV and HDV markers. The incidence of mixed infection in patients reached

34.8%, while in medical personnel it was only 3.4%. There was an increasing

rate of HBV markers in persons who have been immunized with ENGERIX-B

vaccine

according to standard schedules one month, one year and three years after

the vaccination. Administration of

Cuban vaccine

using modified schedules is perspective for wide immunoprophylaxis in

medical staff. Immunization policy for hemodialysis patients needs further

perfection.

PMID: 8571239, UI: 96151284

Voen Med Zh 1994 Mar;(3):44-5, 79

[The detectability of the hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to the

hepatitis C virus in

serviceman blood donors

]. [Article in Russian]

Myl'nikov AIa, Lytsar' BN, Gorbatok LE, Skvortsov SV, Poliakova II,

Gorbatiuk VIu

Blood tests on HBsAg and anti-HCV were conducted in two groups of donors.

The first group: 13677 servicemen, average age--20, constant place of

residence--different regions of Russia. The second group: 1810 men (70%) and

women (30%), average age--37, Moscow residence. In comparison with 1991 a

reduction of positive HBsAg test results was marked in 1992 (by 1.6%) and in

1993 (by 1.8%), including 1.6 and 1.8% for combat units, and 2.2 and 3.9%

for military construction units. In the authors' opinion such improvement of

epidemiological

HBV situation in the Armed Forces

was caused by the fact that in autumn 1991 and in 1992 the drafting for the

basic military service to the Russian Army was abolished in the regions of

Middle Asia, Moldavia and Trans-Caucasus. The difference in anti-HCV

positive results reduction between the first group (1.7%) and the second

group (2.5%) can be explained by age factor, and by the more strict control

over the selection of donors in the first group. PMID: 8191692, UI: 94249184

HCV

------

Vopr Virusol 1999 Sep-Oct;44(5):232-6

[No title available].[Article in Russian]

Representatives of various population groups in Azerbaijan were tested for

infection with human T-lymphotropic (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) and hepatotropic

viruses (HCV and HBV). A total of 835 sera were studied by screening and

specific tests for virus-specific antibodies and/or antigens.

Thirty-five DNA specimens from peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed in

the PCR for HTLV-I-specific sequences. No HTLV-I or HIV were detected, but

two cases with integration of the HTLV-I LTR gene into cellular DNA genome

were detected. A

high rate of infection with hepatitis B and C was revealed.

The level of anti-HCV was 8.7%,

HBsAg 4.1%, and antiHBs 23.4%.

Six cases with double HBV-HCV infection were detected. High values of ALT

among HBV/HCV-seronegative subjects prompts their testing for other types of

hepatitis viruses.

PMID: 10544453, UI: 20011688

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 1999 Jan-Feb;(1):118-9

[No title available].

Charitable Fund Vozvrashchenie, St.sburg, Russia.

The results of the work on the Program " Bus " supported by the Charitable

fund " Vozvrashchenie " and the French organization Doctors of the Word are

presented.

The Program " Bus " , in contrast to a number of other programs aimed at the

" decrease of harm " , extended the project by providing the possibility of

organizing, within this program, contacts between specialists and drug

addicts, as well as the possibility of carrying out diagnostic procedures.

As revealed in the process of the work, a half of those who applied to the

" Bus " for help sought advice, psychological support, etc. 70% of the

drug addicts asking for clean syringes had never applied for help. Among 900

persons who underwent testing,

90% were found to have markers of hepatitis C virus and

76%, markers of hepatitis B virus.

Among those drug addicts who applied to the " Bus " for help 11% were found to

have syphilis and

1 person proved to be HIV-infected.

The results of the work on this project are indicative of the expediency of

using such programs in other regions. PMID: 10096236, UI: 99195970

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 1998 Jan-Feb;(1):74-7

[The diagnosis of hepatitis C viral infection in

blood donors and patients]. [Article in Russian]

Ariamkina OL, Grigor'ev IuB, Fadeeva GE, Burganova RA, Maiorova GS,

Khalilova RR, Fatullaeva EM, Arslanova RKh State University, Central

Medico-Sanitary Institution, Ulyanovsk, Russia.

The data on the examination of 5139 serum samples, obtained from 3358 blood

donors and 1781 somatic patients, for the presence of HCV, HBV and HDV

markers. Antibodies (Ab) to HCV were detected, on the average, in 1.56% of

the examined blood donors (207 persons). Of these, in 1994 HCV markers were

detected in 1.98% and HBV markers in 6.74% of cases, while in 1995 these

markers were detected in 1.14% and 3.43% of cases respectively. The

diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis (mainly C) was verified in

14% of seropositive donors.

In the group of somatic patients Ab to HCV were diagnosed in 130 examined

patients (7.3%), in a half of the cases HCV and HBV coinfection being

present. Similar percentage of coinfection was detected in blood donors. It

should be pointed out that out of the total number of somatic patients only

4 patients had chronic viral hepatic diseases. Our data were compared with

the data of medical statistics and were found to reflect the spread of HCV

and HBV infection in the region among different groups of the population.

PMID: 9532693, UI: 98193872

Vopr Virusol 1997 Jul-Aug;42(4):157-61

[Regularities in the spread of hepatitis C virus and its genotypes in

Russian and countries within the former USSR].

[Article in Russian]

L'vov DK, Samokhvalov EI, Mishiro S, Tsuda F, Selivanov NA, Okamoto H,

Stakhanova VM, Gromashevskii VL, Aristova VA, Doroshenko NV, Iashina TL,

Kuzin SN, Suetina IA, Lobanov DS, Deriabin PG, Ruzaeva LA, Bezgodov VN,

Frizen VI, Firsova LA, Firsova LI, Darizhapov BB, L'vov SD, Smirnov VN,

Lisitsina VE, Shchukina IA, et al

The incidence of markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV in the blood of 4216

normal subjects living in the

European Russia (Northern, North-Western, Central, Central Chernozem,

Volga-Vyatka, Volga, and North Caucasian regions), in the Urals, in Siberia

(Eastern Siberian region), in the Far East, and in Monogolia is assessed.The

incidence of antibodies to HCV varied

from 0.7% in the Central region to

3.8% in the Central Chernozem and

10.7% in Mongolia. [southern Russian border]

HCV genotyping (identification of 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3a genotypes) was

performed using 469 RNA of HCV-positive sera of donors and patients

collected in Russia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia.

The 1b genotype predominated everywhere (68.9%), its incidence being the

highest in Moldova (96%).

Unclassifiable variants of HCV were found in 28 (6%) of sera.

The regularities of HCV genotypes circulation in the European Russia were

the same as in other European countries, whereas their prevalence in Eastern

Russia was rather like that in China or Japan.

The prevalence of genotypes did not depend on the clinical manifestations of

diseases caused by HCV.

PMID: 9304294, UI: 97422841

J Virol Methods 1994 Jun;48(1):81-91

Typing of hepatitis C virus isolates by DNA enzyme immunoassay.

Viazov S, Zibert A, Ramakrishnan K, Widell A, Cavicchini A, Schreier E,

Roggendorf M

Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Moscow, Russia.

Recently, at least six types of hepatitis C viruses (HCV) have been

identified. Different types of HCV appear to possess different pathogenic

properties and a different sensitivity to interferon treatment. Typing of

HCV isolates may therefore be an important diagnostic procedure. We report

on a new method for identification of HCV types 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b and 3a which

are most prevalent in Europe, North America and Japan. The assay is based on

a combination of two well established techniques, the polymerase chain

reaction (PCR) and DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA). In the first step of the

method a cDNA of about 250 bp corresponding to the HCV core-region is

amplified by nested PCR. The target cDNA is then hybridized to type-specific

oligonucleotides fixed to a solid phase through an avidin-biotin bridge. The

formed hybrids are detected by a standard ELISA using monoclonal antibodies

reacting with double-stranded DNA. Typically, signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios

between 18.2 and 48.6 could be observed when different HCV types/subtypes

were analyzed by this method. The test was evaluated using cloned HCV cDNAs

of known types and by sequence determination of some of the typed cDNAs.

Typing of 115 isolates from Germany, Russia and Turkey revealed that

subtype 1b (59-100%) and 1a (24-32%) are

most prevalent

in these countries. PMID: 7962263, UI: 95051227

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 1993 Jul-Aug;(4):80-3

Published erratum appears in Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 1993

Sep-Oct;(5):128

[The hepatitis C virus infection of Moscow blood donors].

[Article in Russian] Sychev Av, Mikhailov MI

A total of 1331 persons aged 18-53 years were screened for specific markers

of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in their

blood, among them 656 primary blood donors, 256 plasmapheresis donors, 111

HBsAg carriers and 306 primary donors with only anti-HBc in the blood.

According to the results of assays obtained with the use of assay systems

ORTHO ELISA and ABBOTT HCV EIA (USA), the detection rate of anti-HCV-C100-3

among primary blood donors in Moscow was 1.37% and was not different from

that among HBsAg carriers (1.8%) and among donors with anti-HCV-C100-3 in

the blood (1.6%) (p < 0.01). At the same time differences in the occurrence

of anti-HCV-C100-3 circulation in significant plasmapheresis donors were

detected: 2.71% (p < 0.01). Antibodies to HCV were detected significantly

more frequently among male that female donors. No correlation was found

between the detection of anti-HCV-C100-3 in the blood and

anti-HBc IgG as the substitute marker of HCV infection.

PMID: 8067123, UI: 94346135

HDV

------

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl 1990;69:49-53

Epidemiology of hepatitis delta virus and non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Nordenfelt E

Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Malmo General

Hospital, Sweden.

Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) is an incomplete virus dependent on the

hepatitis B virus (HBV) for its replication. Serologic studies have shown

that HDV is found all over the world. However, the prevalence is not simply

a function of the prevalence of HBV, but HDV has an epidemiology of its own

with major geographic differences as exemplified below. A

high rate with as many as 60-80% anti-HDV positives [70% avg]

among chronic HBsAg-carriers has been found

in the northern part of South America, Central Africa and Asiatic Russia. In

Europe, USA and Australia the prevalences of anti-delta among chronic HBV

carriers in the general population are low. It is high, however, in special

risk groups such as drug addicts. In the Far-East a very low frequency of

anti-HDV is found. There are two different types of non-A, non-B hepatitis,

transmitted either enterically or parenterally. The different agents are now

partly characterized. The agent causing enterically transmitted disease has

characteristics comparable with calici virus. The designation hepatitis E

virus has been proposed. Epidemics of hepatitis caused by this agent has

been found in three continents. The outbreaks have been associated with

fecal contamination of drinking water. The agent causing parenterally

transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis has been reported to be partly defined by

molecular hybridization techniques and is probably related to flavi virus.

The name hepatitis C virus has been proposed. Parenterally transmitted

non-A, non-B is predominantly seen in recipients of blood or blood products

and among drug addicts.

Publication Types:Review Review, tutorial PMID: 1967120, UI: 91088991

HEV

------

Vopr Virusol 1996 May-Jun;41(3):104-7

[Hepatitis E in a

nonendemic region:

antibodies to hepatitis E virus in various groups of residents]. [Article in

Russian]

Fedorova OE, Balaian MS, Mikhailov MI, Pavlova IP, Slasten OA, Patiutko IuI,

Sagaidak IV, Usmanov RK

Increase in the number of seropositive subjects in the population of

European and North-American regions not endemic for hepatitis E stimulated

research in this field. This study was aimed at investigating the incidence

of IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV-IgG) in subjects with

different liver diseases and in groups at increased risk of infection in a

nonendemic region. In patients with different diseases of the liver the

incidence of anti-HEV-IgG varied from

5.1 to 14.3%,

in medical workers and former blood donors not allowed to donate blood

because of increased transaminase levels in the blood 5.1 and 5.3%,

respectively. In the reference group this level was appreciably lower-only

1.8%, this being rather close to the incidence of anti-HEV-IgG in the

population of a nonendemic region (2.1%). There were no seropositive women

in the group of healthy pregnant women in a non-endemic region, whereas in

an

endemic region (in Kyrghyzstan) 15%

of pregnant women were seropositive for anti-HEV. PMID: 8928500, UI:

96376135

HGV

------

Epidemiol Infect 1999 Feb;122(1):139-43

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and GB virus-C

infections in Siberia.

Ohba K, Mizokami M, Kato T, Ueda R, Gurtsenvitch V, Senyuta N, Syrtsev A,

Zoya K, Yamashita M, Hayami M

Second Department of Medicine, Nagoya City University Medical School,

Kawasumi, Mizuho, Japan.

We studied the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus

(HCV) and GB virus-C (GBV-C) infections in 348 Siberian natives who lived in

the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia. Of 348 samples studied, the

seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 11.8% (41 of 348 samples) and

35.9% (125 of 348 samples), respectively. The prevalence of HCV infection

was 1.4% (5 of 348 samples), and that of GBV-C RNA, using RT-PCR methods,

was

7.5% (26 of 348 samples). [~8%]

In Siberia, the prevalences of HBV and GBV-C infections were about tenfold

higher than those in Japan.

The prevalence of HBsAg in subjects under 50 years of age was significantly

higher than that in those over 50 years old (P < 0.05). Because HBV

infection is highly endemic in Siberia, we propose that the community-based

mass immunization must be conducted as soon as possible in this area.

PMID: 10098797, UI: 99196433

TTV

-----

Vopr Virusol 1999 Jul-Aug;44(4):170-1

[Detection of TT DNA virus (TTV) in blood donors and patients with hepatitis

of unclear etiology].

[Article in Russian]

Isaeva EI, Kuzin SN, Stepanov AN, Uchaikin VF, Ross RS, Rossendorf M, Viazov

SO, L'vov DK

A new human infective agent: TT virus (TTV) has been recently identified.

The polymerase chain reaction detected TTV DNA in the sera of 5 (31.3%) out

of 16 children with acute hepatitis, 5 (17.2%) out of 29 children and 3

(14.3%) out of 21 adults with liver diseases of unknown etiology, and 18 (

13.2%) out of 136 free-of-charge blood donors.

These results indicate a high prevalence of TTV infection in Russia

and absence of an obvious correlation between this infection and nonA, nonB,

nonC hepatitis in examined patients. Phylogenetic analysis of amplified

fragments of viral DNA from 3 patients selected at random showed that the

isolated strains belong to

subtype 1a, most prevalent in the world.

PMID: 10500985, UI: 99430772

HIV/AIDS

------------

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol 1999 Jan-Feb;(1):13-6

[The development of HIV infection in the

Far-Eastern region of the Russian

Federation].

[Article in Russian]

Bogach VV, Trotsenko OE

Far-Eastern Center for Prophylaxis of AIDS, Khabarovsk, Russia.

By May 18, 1998,

108 HIV-infected persons were registered

in the Far-Eastern region.

In recent years young people using narcotic drugs were involved in

the epidemic process. The sources of the infection were mainly migrants

arriving to the Far East from the Ukraine. HIV-infected persons also were

registered in settlements lying north of the Arctic Circle.

PMID: 10096185, UI: 99195919

In 1997 and during the first quarter of 1998, UNAIDS and WHO worked closely

with national governments and research institutions to recalculate current

estimates on people living with HIV/AIDS. These calculations are based on

the previously published estimates for 1994 (WER 1995; 70:353-360) and

recent trends in HIV/AIDS surveillance in various populations. Epimodel 2, a

microcomputer programme originally developed by the WHO Global Programme on

AIDS, was used to calculate the new estimates on prevalence and incidence of

AIDS and AIDS deaths, as well as the number of children infected through

mother-to-child transmission of HIV, taking into account age-specific

fertility rates. An additional spreadsheet model was used to calculate the

number of children whose mothers had died of AIDS.

Estimated number of

adults and children living with HIV/AIDS, end of 1997 40,000

0.05

Estimated number of AIDS cases 290

Russian Federation

The current estimates do not claim to be an exact count of infections.

Rather, they use a methodology that has thus far proved accurate in

producing estimates which give a good indication of the magnitude of the

epidemic in individual countries. However, these estimates are constantly

being revised as countries improve their surveillance systems and collect

more information. This includes information about infection levels in

different populations, and behaviours which facilitate or impede infection.

Adults in this report are defined as women and men aged 15 to 49. This age

range covers people in their most sexually active years. While the risk of

HIV infection obviously continues beyond the age of 50, the vast majority of

those who engage in substantial risk behaviours are likely to be infected by

this age. Since population structures differ greatly from one country to

another, especially for children and the upper adult ages, the restriction

of the term adult to 15-to-49-year- olds has the advantage of making

different populations more comparable. This age range was used as the

denominator in calculating adult HIV prevalence.– 3

UNAIDS/WHO Epidemiological Fact Sheet June 1998

http://www.who.int/emc-hiv/fact_sheets/all_countries.html#U

OTHER

-----------

Med Confl Surviv 1999 Jul-Sep;15(3):215-34

A magic sword or a big itch: an historical look at the United States

biological weapons programme.

Hay A

School of Medicine, University of Leeds.

In the late 1950s interest in entomological warfare increased, and

literature describing the US biological warfare programmes on the use of the

mosquito Aedes aegypti, the vector for transmitting yellow fever, has now

been released.

Yellow fever was considered as a suitable disease to use

in southern regions of the former Soviet Union. [Mongolia, etc...]

The US destroyed its biological weapon stockpiles in the early 1970s.

In addition to its offensive biological warfare programme, the US conducted

extensive trials to assess its own vulnerability to biological attack.

These trials and a later series of threat analyses indicate that biological

agents could, indeed, affect large areas of the US if the attackers were

allowed to proceed unmolested.

Some of the threat analyses present highly questionable scenarios.

Publication Types:

Historical article

PMID: 10472190, UI: 99401410

Med Confl Surviv 1999 Jul-Sep;15(3):198-214

Simulants, stimulants and diseases: the evolution of the

United States

biological warfare programme, 1945-60. Hay A

School of Medicine, University of Leeds.

Details about the US biological programme have largely been based on

information in the open literature. More revealing aspects of the programme

are now available through documents released under the Freedom of

Information Act. Annual reports of the activities of the US Army Chemical

Corps from 1945 to 1959 have revealed

significant increases in activity in biological warfare research.

The Corps research activity progressed from

work on anthrax in 1941, through anti-crop agents in the mid-1940s, to a

wider range of animal, plant and human diseases by 1960. A number of disease

organisms were investigated sufficiently to permit some standardisation and

manufacture of munitions.

Publication Types:

Historical article

PMID: 10472189, UI: 99401409

Virus Res 1999 Apr;60(2):171-9

High prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of

TT-virus infection in Mongolia.

Kato H, Mizokami M, Nakano T, Kondo Y, Dashnyam B, Oyunsuren T, Ueda R

Second Department of Medicine, Nagoya City University Medical School,

Kawasumi, Japan.

A novel DNA virus, TT-virus (TTV), was isolated from a post-transfusion

hepatitis patient in Japan. The prevalence of TTV infection was investigated

among patients with chronic liver disease and normal alanine

aminotransferase (ALT) volunteers as controls in Mongolia. Polymerase chain

reaction (PCR) was employed to detect TTV DNA using specific primers derived

from open reading frame 1 (ORF1) of the TTV genome. Nucleotide sequences of

samples positive for TTV DNA were determined. The sequences were analyzed by

a molecular evolutionary method. Fifty (60.2%) hepatitis patients and 12(

42.9%) volunteers were positive for TTV DNA.

The serum ALT levels did not

differ significantly between patients with single TTV infection and without

TTV, HBV and HCV infection. Similarly, the serum ALT levels did not differ

significantly between controls with and without TTV infection. Dual

infection of TTV with either HBV or HCV did not affect the ALT levels of

hepatitis patients. The molecular evolutionary tree showed that TTV was a

heterogeneous virus and all strains could be divided into three genotypes in

Mongolia. A new genotype was identified that was distinct from those

previously reported.

PMID: 10392725, UI: 99319896

Vopr Virusol 1984 Jul-Aug;29(4):434-7

[Viral hepatitis A and B in anthropoid apes of the Moscow Zoo].

[Article in Russian]

Anan'ev VA, Viazov SO, Garanina NM, Doroshenko NV, Zhilina NN

The rate of occurrence of hepatitis A and B virus specific markers in

anthropoid

apes of the Moscow Zoo

(3 chimpanzees, 3 gorillas, 8 orang-outangs) was studied. Long-term

persistence of HBs-antigen in orang-outang accompanied by the presence of

HBe-antigen and anti-HBs was demonstrated. The presence of anti-HBs in

gorillas and orang-outangs was recorded. Antibodies to

hepatitis A virus were found in all the animal species examined.

Cases of acute virus hepatitis A in orang-outangs are described contracted

from the personnel handling the animals and suffering from this type of

hepatitis. Morphological features of the course of hepatitis A in the

presence of HBs-antigen carrier state are described. The possibility of

active immunization of susceptible animals and the personnel of the zoo

against viral hepatitides is discussed. PMID: 6093384, UI: 85042189

Ref PM:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/