Hepatitis B virus genotype in Iranian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV appears to be the most common cause of HCC in Iran. To date, no study has been carried out on the HBV genotype in Iranian HCC patients. This study was undertaken to determine the HBV genotype in Iranian patients with HCC. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 40 patients (31 males and nine females) with HBV-associated HCC were collected from different pathology centers during 2000-2007. Genotyping of HBV was performed by nested PCR-mediated amplification of the target sequence. PCR products were sequenced, and the genotype of each HBV sequence was determined by comparison with sequences of known genotypes in the GenBank. A phylogenetic tree was constructed. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the HBV isolates were clustered in genotype D. CONCLUSIONS: Our results concur with other reports from Iran, all showing that genotype D is the only detectable genotype in the different clinical forms of HBV infection in this country.

Detection of hepatitis G virus envelope protein E2 antibody in blood donors.

OBJECTIVES: The frequency of hepatitis G virus exposure in blood donors varies between 2.5% in Japan to 24.2% in Poland. Therefore there is a geographic difference in distribution of hepatitis G virus (HGV) in the world. We aimed to determine the frequency of HGV exposure in Iranian blood donors. METHODS: Blood samples from 478 Iranian volunteer blood donors were tested. Positive anti-E2 samples were tested for HGV RNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) using primers derived from the NS5A region of the viral genome. RESULTS: Of the 478 donors enrolled in our study, five (1%) were positive for anti-E2. Only one donor out of a total of three HBsAg-positive donors was co-infected with HGV, but we did not find HGV and HCV co-infection in our subjects. HGV RNA was not observed in the five anti-E2-positive subjects. We did not find HGV viremia and antibody at the same time. CONCLUSION: A low frequency of HGV exposure in blood donors was found in this study. We did not observe co-infection of HGV with HCV in our subjects, supporting the theory that although the parenteral route is the most effective means of transmission, other routes such as sexual contact and intra-familial contact may also play a role in HGV transmission.

Hepatitis G virus exposure in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a blood-borne virus. The predominant route of its transmission is parenteral. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of HGV exposure in haemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients in Iran. METHODS: This study was performed in a major dialysis centre in Tehran, Iran. The study cohort consisted of 77 patients on HD and 13 patients on CAPD. The presence of anti-HGV envelope protein E2 (anti-E2) in the blood serum, as determined by means of an ELISA assay, indicated HGV exposure. All patients were also screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). In patients who tested positive for anti-E2, HGV RNA was detected by RT-PCR using primers derived from the NS5A region of the viral genome. RESULTS: In total, 3.89% of the HD patients and none of the CAPD patients tested positive for anti-E2. None of the patients tested positive for HGV RNA. The mean age of the anti-E2-positive patients was 53.3 +/- 26.5 years, with 66.66% having previously received blood transfusion. The mean duration of dialysis of the anti-E2-positive patients was 68 +/- 64 months. Co-infection with HCV or HBV was not observed in the anti-E2 positive patients. CONCLUSION: The rate of exposure to HGV was low among the dialysis patients in our study. The appearance of anti-E2 was accompanied by clearance of serum HGV-RNA. No relationship was noted between HGV exposure and age, sex, history of blood transfusion, time on dialysis and HCV or HBV markers.

Hepatitis G virus exposure in dialysis staff.

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a blood-borne virus. Some present data demonstrate an occupational risk of HGV infection in medical staff of dialysis units. The aim of this investigation was to assess the prevalence of HGV exposure in dialysis staff. This study was performed in a main dialysis unit in Iran. In 27 dialysis staff, HGV exposure was detected serologically by the presence of anti HGV envelope protein E2 (anti-E2) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and compared with 77 hemodialysis (HD) and 13 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. All of them were also screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). A low prevalence of HGV exposure was found in the dialysis staff (0%), which nearly corresponded to the prevalence of the dialysis patients (HD 3.89%, CAPD 0%). The prevalence of anti-HCV and anti-HBs in staff was 37.03% and 33.33%, respectively, which was higher than HGV anti-E2. The prevalence of HGV exposure was low in dialysis staff in our study, and was near to the prevalence of HGV exposure in dialysis patients. Therefore, it can be concluded that the occupational risk for HGV exposure in our investigation was minimal.