[Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C in centers of hemodialysis in St. Petersburg].

AIM: Study molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C (HC) in 5 departments of hemodialysis (DH) in St. Petersburg. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sequences of nucleotides of 93 isolates including 67 isolates from patents of 5 DH and 26 isolates from patients, who never had hemodialysis in anamnesis, were obtained in 2010 by a method of limited sequencing of NS5B region of HC virus genome. Phyologenetic analysis was carried out by using PHYLIP veision 3.69 program package. Evolution differences were evaluated in DNADIST program using F84 algorithm. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by using nearest neighbor and UOGMA methods in PHYLIP program package. RESULTS: Subtype 1b was established to dominate in all the DH (69.2 - 92.9%) and the same isolates of HC virus were detected in DH, that were isolated for the first time in 1999. Comparatively higher proportion of isolates of HC subgenotype 3a (26.7 - 30.8%) was detected in 2 of 5 DH in 2010. The same proportion of 3a isolates was detected in the control group. CONCLUSION: The fact that HC 3a virus isolates were detected in DH in a higher proportion is proof that they have successfully integrated into circulation among dialysis patients over the last decade. ,

[Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A in Saint-Petersburg in 2009].

AIM: To determine immune structure of different population groups in Saint-Petersburg to hepatitis A virus in 2009 in order to study trends of epidemic process dynamics and planning of prophylactic measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine hundred and three citizens of Saint-Petersburg aged 3 months to 60 years were tested for anti-HAV by ELISA in 2009. Results were compared with data of previous study conducted in Saint-Petersburg in 1999. Two hundred injection drug users (IDUs) aged 14 - 29 years were tested additionally. RESULTS: In total in 2009, anti-HAV were detected in 32.5 +/- 1.6% citizens of Saint-Petersburg that is 2-fold lower than in 1999 (60.2 +/- 1.5%). Especially sharp decrease of anti-HAV prevalence in 2009 compared to 1999 was observed in age groups 15 - 19 years (by 2.6-fold), 20 - 29 years (by 3.1-fold), and 30 - 39 years (2.8-fold). Anti-HAV were detected in 58.5 +/- 3.5% of tested IDUs that 2.8-fold higher of that value observed in persons 14 - 29 years old from population sample (21.7 +/- 2.4%). CONCLUSION: Decrease of immunity to HA in population of Saint-Petersburg is very unfavorable prognostic factor pointing to strong possibility of HA outbreaks onset during worsening of epidemic situation. In such circumstances, active immunization against HA of wide strata of population should become important prophylactic measure.