Hepatitis B Infection among high risk population: a seroepidemiological survey in Southwest of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health problem. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk behaviors for HBV infection among high risk groups in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province, in Southwest of Iran. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 2009 subjects, between 2009 and 2010 in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province, in southwest of Iran. Recruited subjects were the high risk groups for HBV infection, including inmates, injecting drug users, health care workers, patients on maintenance haemodialysis, hemophilic patients and patients with a history of blood transfusion. Their serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (HBc IgM, IgG) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seropositive specimens were tested for HBsAg. Demographic features of participants were recorded during sample collecting. RESULTS: HBsAg was detected in 24 of the 2009 subjects, giving an overall prevalence of 1.2%. All HBsAg positive cases were males. The prevalence of HBsAg among injection drug users was 3.2%. Significant correlation was found between HBV infection and drug abuse, level of education and place of residence (p<0.05), while no significant correlation was found between HBV infection and previous history of blood transfusion, unprotected sexual behavior, and thalassemia. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, incarceration and drug abuse are the most important risk factors for acquiring HBV infection in this region. Modifying behavior, improving the individual education and expanding the HBV vaccination coverage may reduce the rate of infection in the region.

High prevalence of hepatitis C infection among high risk groups in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad Province, Southwest Iran.

BACKGROUND: Detection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected people in each community assists with infection prevention and control.  This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection among high risk groups in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad Province, Southwest Iran. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from 2009-2010 in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad Province. High risk groups for HCV were the subjects of this study. Blood samples were taken from 2009 individuals at high risk for HCV that included inmates, injecting drug users (IDUs), health care workers, patients on maintenance hemodialysis, hemophilic patients, and those with histories of blood transfusions. Patients were residents of Yasuj, Gachsaran, and Dehdasht (3 main townships in the province). Samples were analyzed by ELISA for anti-HCV antibodies. Demographic features of participants were recorded by a questionnaire during sample collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 13 software. RESULTS: Of 2009 subjects, HCV antibodies were detected in 172 (8.6%). Rate of infection was higher in males (11.4%) compared to females (3.2%). Rate of infection in inmates was 11.7% while this rate was 42.4% in IDUs, 4.2% in health care workers, and 6.1% in thalassemic patients. Significant correlation was found between HCV infection, history of imprisonment, and thalassemia. CONCLUSION: Results of this study have provided epidemiologic features of HCV and its risk factors in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad Province, Southwest Iran. This information may assist in preventing the spread of HCV infection in this and other similar settings in the region. The findings of this study may help in improving surveillance and infection control in the community through management and monitoring of infected individuals.

HIV seroprevalence among high-risk groups in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad Province, Southwest of Iran, a behavioral surveillance survey.

We conducted a survey to assess the seroprevalence and risk behaviors for HIV infection in 2,009 individuals in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province, in Southwest of Iran. Blood samples were drawn from each participant and tested for anti-HIV1/2 antibodies. HIV antibodies were detected in 36 (1.8%) blood samples among a total of 2,009 participants. The rate of infection in inmates was 2.7% while this rate was 9.9% in injection drug users. Correlation between HIV infection and sex, age, marital status, history of imprisonment, injection drug use, and place of residence were significant. Improving of the surveillance in this community through supervision and monitoring of infected people is needed.

Formulation of the adenylate cyclase toxin of Bordetella pertussis as protein-coated microcrystals.

Adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) is an important virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, and, in its detoxified form, a potential component of acellular pertussis vaccines. This study reports the application of a novel technology, formulation of CyaA as protein-coated microcrystals (PCMC), to improve the performance of CyaA as a vaccine component. CyaA is normally stored in a high urea concentration to prevent aggregation and to maintain stability of the protein. The aim of the work was to stabilise CyaA on a crystalline support to create a dry powder that could be reconstituted in aqueous buffer, free of urea. CyaA, formulated as PCMC with microcrystals of dl-valine, retained full adenylate cyclase (AC) and cell invasive (cytotoxic) activities after solubilistion in urea buffer. After storage as a dry powder at 37 degrees C for 2 weeks, the AC activity recovered from the CyaA-PCMC was only marginally reduced when solubilised in urea buffer. No AC activity was detected after attempts to solubilise CyaA-PCMC in aqueous buffer alone, in the absence of urea. Inclusion of various ionic, non-ionic or zwitterionic detergents in the aqueous buffer had little effect on recovery of CyaA activities. However, preparation of PCMC with CyaA plus calmodulin (CaM) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) or with both proteins allowed restoration of AC and cytotoxic activities of CyaA upon solubilisation in aqueous buffer. Incorporation of BSA and CaM with CyaA allowed essentially full recovery of AC activity but lower recovery of cytotoxicity. CyaA-CaM-BSA-PCMC, after reconstitution in aqueous buffer, induced a strong serum IgG response to CyaA when injected subcutaneously into mice.