| 1. |
- Manuylov, V., et al.
(author)
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Genetic Diversity and Possible Origins of the Hepatitis B Virus in Siberian Natives
- 2022
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In: Viruses. - : MDPI AG. - 1999-4915. ; 14:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A total of 381 hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA sequences collected from nine groups of Siberian native populations were phylogenetically analyzed along with 179 HBV strains sampled in different urban populations of former western USSR republics and 50 strains from Central Asian republics and Mongolia. Different HBV subgenotypes predominated in various native Siberian populations. Subgenotype D1 was dominant in Altaian Kazakhs (100%), Tuvans (100%), and Teleuts (100%) of southern Siberia as well as in Dolgans and Nganasans (69%), who inhabit the polar Taimyr Peninsula. D2 was the most prevalent subgenotype in the combined group of Nenets, Komi, and Khants of the northern Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region (71%) and in Yakuts (36%) from northeastern Siberia. D3 was the main subgenotype in South Altaians (76%) and Buryats (40%) of southeastern Siberia, and in Chukchi (51%) of the Russian Far East. Subgenotype C2 was found in Taimyr (19%) and Chukchi (27%), while subgenotype A2 was common in Yakuts (33%). In contrast, D2 was dominant (56%) in urban populations of the former western USSR, and D1 (62%) in Central Asian republics and Mongolia. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the studied groups are epidemiologically isolated from each other and might have contracted HBV from different sources during the settlement of Siberia.
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| 2. |
- Wesslén, Lars, et al.
(author)
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An increase in sudden unexpected cardiac deaths among young Swedish orienteers during 1979-1992
- 1996
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In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 17:6, s. 902-910
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Sixteen cases of sudden unexpected cardiac death, 15 males and one female, are known to have occurred among young Swedish orienteers from 1979 to 1992, of which seven cases occurred between 1989 and 1992. This is considered to be indicative of an increased death rate. RESULTS: Histopathological evaluation showed myocarditis in a higher than expected proportion of cases. In one such case, which we studied before the sudden unexpected death occurred, the victim had suffered a Chlamydia pneumoniae infection verified by serology, and a nucleotide sequence was found in the heart and lung by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that hybridized with a probe specific for that organism. Male Swedish orienteers do not, however, seem to have an increased rate of exposure to this agent. No further sudden unexpected deaths among young orienteers have occurred over the past 3.5 years. At the beginning of that period, attempts were made to modify training habits and attitudes.
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| 3. |
- Hellmér, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Detection of Pathogenic Viruses in Sewage Provided Early Warnings of Hepatitis A Virus and Norovirus Outbreaks
- 2014
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In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. - : American Society for Microbiology. - 0099-2240 .- 1098-5336. ; 80:21, s. 6771-6781
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Most persons infected with enterically transmitted viruses shed large amounts of virus in feces for days or weeks, both before and after onset of symptoms. Therefore, viruses causing gastroenteritis may be detected in wastewater, even if only a few persons are infected. In this study, the presence of eight pathogenic viruses (norovirus, astrovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, Aichi virus, parechovirus, hepatitis A virus [HAV], and hepatitis E virus) was investigated in sewage to explore whether their identification could be used as an early warning of outbreaks. Samples of the untreated sewage were collected in proportion to flow at Ryaverket, Gothenburg, Sweden. Daily samples collected during every second week between January and May 2013 were pooled and analyzed for detection of viruses by concentration through adsorption to milk proteins and PCR. The largest amount of noroviruses was detected in sewage 2 to 3 weeks before most patients were diagnosed with this infection in Gothenburg. The other viruses were detected at lower levels. HAV was detected between weeks 5 and 13, and partial sequencing of the structural VP1protein identified three different strains. Two strains were involved in an ongoing outbreak in Scandinavia and were also identified in samples from patients with acute hepatitis A in Gothenburg during spring of 2013. The third strain was unique and was not detected in any patient sample. The method used may thus be a tool to detect incipient outbreaks of these viruses and provide early warning before the causative pathogens have been recognized in health care.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Tallo, T, et al.
(author)
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D2: major subgenotype of hepatitis B virus in Russia and the Baltic region
- 2008
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In: The Journal of general virology. - : Microbiology Society. - 0022-1317 .- 1465-2099. ; 89:Pt 8, s. 1829-1839
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Complete or almost complete hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomes were sequenced for 13 genotype A and 42 genotype D strains from the former USSR. The strains were classifiable within subgenotypes A2, D1, D2 and D3. Comparison of the deduced gene products for the four ORFs of 89 genotype D strains revealed 27 subgenotype-specific residues, and a region spanning residues 58–128 in the spacer region of the P gene could be used to distinguish between D1 and D4. This enabled the allocation to subgenotype of strains with partially sequenced genomes. D2 was dominating, while D3 was found in low frequency in the whole region. D1 was most prevalent in the Middle Asian Republics. Mean inter-subgenotype divergences between D1 and D2, D1 and D3 and D2 and D3 were 2.7, 3.4 and 3.4 %, respectively. The intra-subgenotype divergence was 0.4, 1.1, 1.0 and 1.8 % for A2, D1, D2 and D3, respectively. All D1 and D3 strains encoded subtype ayw2, whereas most D2 strains encoded ayw3. Two D2 strains encoded ayw4. Strains with identical S genes were closely related at the level of complete genomes and formed geographically specific clades with low intraclade divergences, possibly indicating past iatrogenic spread. It is not clear whether the finding of four subgenotypes in the area corresponds to separate introductions of the virus or to previous population migrations into the area. An earlier introduction of D3 compared with D2 was supported by its higher intra-subgenotype divergence, while the lower divergence within D1 is probably due to a more recent emergence.
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| 6. |
- Ahmed, Sheik, et al.
(author)
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Thalassemia Patients from Baluchistan in Pakistan Are Infected with Multiple Hepatitis B or C Virus Strains
- 2021
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In: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. - : American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. - 0002-9637 .- 1476-1645. ; 104:4, s. 1569-1576
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There are an estimated 2,000 children with 6-thalassemia in the province Baluchistan of Pakistan. These children are at high risk of acquiring transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) due to their need of regular blood transfusions for survival. Therefore, we investigated the frequencies of TTIs among these multi-transfused patients in a region where the WHO guidelines for blood safety are not always followed. Sera from 400 children (mean age 7.7 +/- 4.70 years) treated at two thalassemia centers in Baluchistan were investigated for TTIs. Eleven (2.8%) were hepatitis B surface antigen positive, and 72 (18.3%) had anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), two of which were infected with both viruses. Only 22% of the children had been reached by the program for universal hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination which started in 2004. Half (51%) of the HCV infected had also been HBV infected. The HBV- and HCV-infected patients were older and had received more blood transfusions than the uninfected patients (P < 0.001). Molecular characterization of the viral strains revealed the presence of several genetically different strains in at least three HBV- and seven HCV-infected children. This is the first study to demonstrate infections with multiple HBV or HCV strains simultaneously infecting thalassemia patients. These may become the source for new emerging recombinant viruses of unknown virulence. The high prevalence of anti-HCV-positive children, and the presence of HBV infections among children who should have been vaccinated, highlights an urgent need for improvements of blood safety in this region of Pakistan.
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| 7. |
- Junttila, N., et al.
(author)
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Complete Coding Regions of the Prototypes Enterovirus B93 and C95: Phylogenetic Analyses of the P1 and P3 Regions of EV-B and EV-C Strains
- 2015
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In: Journal of Medical Virology. - : Wiley. - 0146-6615 .- 1096-9071. ; 87:3, s. 485-497
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Complete coding regions were sequenced for two new enterovirus genomes: EV-B93 previously identified by VP1 sequencing, derived from a child with acute flaccid paralysis in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and EV-C95 from a French soldier with acute gastroenteritis in Djibouti. The EV-B93 P1 had more than 30% nucleotide divergence from other EV-B types, with highest similarity to E-15 and EV-B80. The P1 nucleotide sequence of EV-C95 was most similar, 71%, to CV-A21. Complete coding regions for the new enteroviruses were compared with those of 135 EV-B and 176 EV-C strains representing all types available in GenBank. When strains from the same outbreak or strains isolated during the same year in the same geographical region were excluded, 27 of the 58 EV-B, and 16 of the 23 EV-C types were represented by more than one sequence. However, for EV-B the P3 sequences formed three clades mainly according to origin or time of isolation, irrespective of type, while for EV-C the P3 sequences segregated mainly according to disease manifestation, with most strains causing paralysis, including polioviruses, forming one clade, and strains causing respiratory illness forming another. There was no intermixing of types between these two clades, apart from two EV-C96 strains. The EV-B P3 sequences had lower inter-clade and higher intra-clade variability as compared to the EV-C sequences, which may explain why inter-clade recombinations are more frequent in EV-B. Further analysis of more isolates may shed light on the role of recombinations in the evolution of EV-B in geographical context. J. Med. Virol. 87:485-497, 2015. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Magnius, L., et al.
(author)
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ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Deltavirus
- 2018
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In: Journal of General Virology. - : Microbiology Society. - 0022-1317 .- 1465-2099. ; 99:12, s. 1565-1566
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hepatitis delta virus, the only member of the only species in the genus Deltavirus, is a unique human pathogen. Its -1.7 kb circular negative-sense RNA genome encodes a protein, hepatitis delta antigen, which occurs in two forms, small and large, both with unique functions. Hepatitis delta virus uses host RNA polymerase II to replicate via double rolling circle RNA synthesis. Newly synthesized linear RNAs are circularized after autocatalytic cleavage and ligation. Hepatitis delta virus requires the envelope of the helper virus, hepatitis B virus (family Hepadnaviridae), to produce infectious particles. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of Deltavirus which is available at www.ictv.global/report/deltavirus.
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| 10. |
- Magnius, L., et al.
(author)
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ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Hepadnaviridae
- 2020
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In: The Journal of general virology. - : Microbiology Society. - 1465-2099 .- 0022-1317. ; 101:6, s. 571-572
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The family Hepadnaviridae comprises small enveloped viruses with a partially double-stranded DNA genome of 3.0-3.4kb. All family members express three sets of proteins (preC/C, polymerase and preS/S) and replication involves reverse transcription within nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Hepadnaviruses are hepatotropic and infections may be transient or persistent. There are five genera: Parahepadnavirus, Metahepadnavirus, Herpetohepadnavirus, Avihepadnavirus and Orthohepadnavirus. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Hepadnaviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/hepadnaviridae.
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| 11. |
- Norder, Helene, et al.
(author)
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Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 Genomes from RNA-Positive but Serologically Negative Plasma Donors Have CUG as the Start Codon for ORF3
- 2018
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In: Intervirology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0300-5526 .- 1423-0100. ; 61:2, s. 96-103
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a pathogen that causes hepatitis worldwide. Molecular studies have identified HEV RNA in blood products although its significance is not understood. This study was undertaken to characterize HEV genomes in asymptomatic plasma donors from Sweden and Germany lacking anti-HEV. Complete open reading frames (ORFs) were obtained from HEV strains in 5 out of 18 plasma donors who tested positive for HEV RNA. All strains had CUG as the start codon of ORF3, while 147 GenBank strains all had AUG as the start codon (p < 0.0001). This substitution was found in both interrelated and unrelated strains belonging to different phylogenetic clades. The HEV strains from the seronegative plasma donors had no other substitution in common, which may be why the CUG substitution seems to ex- plain the seronegativity. (C) 2018 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Roth, Anette, et al.
(author)
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Markers for Ongoing or Previous Hepatitis E Virus Infection Are as Common in Wild Ungulates as in Humans in Sweden
- 2016
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In: Viruses-Basel. - : MDPI AG. - 1999-4915. ; 8:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a human pathogen with zoonotic spread, infecting both domestic and wild animals. About 17% of the Swedish population is immune to HEV, but few cases are reported annually, indicating that most infections are subclinical. However, clinical hepatitis E may also be overlooked. For identified cases, the source of infection is mostly unknown. In order to identify whether HEV may be spread from wild game, the prevalence of markers for past and/or ongoing infection was investigated in sera and stool samples collected from 260 hunted Swedish wild ungulates. HEV markers were found in 43 (17%) of the animals. The most commonly infected animal was moose (Alces alces) with 19 out of 69 animals (28%) showing HEV markers, followed by wild boar (Sus scrofa) with 21 out of 139 animals (15%), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with 2 out of 30 animals, red deer (Cervus elaphus) with 1 out of 15 animals, and fallow deer (Dama dama) 0 out of 7 animals. Partial open reading frame 1 (ORF1) of the viral genomes from the animals were sequenced and compared with those from 14 endemic human cases. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that three humans were infected with HEV strains similar to those from wild boar. These results indicate that wild animals may be a source of transmission to humans and could be an unrecognized public health concern.
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| 14. |
- Samimi-Rad, K., et al.
(author)
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Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C at Iranian Thalassemia Centers Shown by Genetic Characterization of Viral Strains
- 2013
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In: Hepatitis Monthly. - : Briefland. - 1735-143X .- 1735-3408. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Hepatitis C is prevalent among thalassemia patients in Iran. It is mainly transfusion mediated, in particular among patients treated before 1996 when blood screening was introduced. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate why patients still seroconvert to anti-HCV in Iranian thalassemia centers. Patients and Methods: During 2006-2007 sera were sampled from 217 anti-HCV positive thalassemia patients at nine thalassemia centers in Tehran and Amol city, where 34 (16%) patients had been infected after 1996. The HCV subtype could be determined by sequencing and .NCR-core region in 130 strains׳5 phylogenetic analysis of partial NS5B and/or Results: 1a (53%) was predominant followed by 3a (30%), 1b (15%), and one strain each of 2k, 3k and 4a. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 19 clades with up to ve strains diverging with less than six nucleotides from each other within subtypes 1a and 3a. Strains in seven cla des were from nine patients infected between 1999 and 2005 and similar to strains from eight patients infected before 1996, indicating ongoin g transmission at the centers. Further epidemiological investigation revealed that 28 patients infected with strains within the same clade had frequently been transfused at the same shift sitting on the same bed. An additional eight patients with related strains had frequently bee n transfused simultaneously in the same room. Conclusions: The results suggest nosocomial transmission at these thalassemia centers both before and after the introduction of blood screening. Further training of sta and strict adherence to preventive measures are thus essential to reduce the incidence of new HCV infections.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
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