Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among People Living with HIV in Burkina Faso and Diagnostic Performance of HIV/HCV/HBsAg Combined Rapid Test in Comparison with Architect Assays

Background: The diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a constraint for some populations in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV in people living with HIV and to evaluate the performance of a combined rapid test for the simultaneous detection of HIV, HBV, and HCV. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that took place from February 2017 to November 2018 and included 139 HIV-infected individuals followed up at different medical centers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. HBV and HCV serology tests were performed on-site using finger prick whole blood with HIV/HCV/HBsAg combined rapid test and then serum with two reference tests “Architect HBsAg Qualitative” and “Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo”. Results: The mean age of the participants was 57 ± 8 years. Of the 139 participants, 10% (14/139) were HIV-1 positive, 71.9% (100/139) were HIV-2 positive, and 18.0% (25/139) were HIV-1/HIV-2 coinfected. The sensitivity and specificity of the HIV/HCV/HBsAg combined rapid test were 33.33% vs 99.11% and 20% vs 99.25% compared to Architect HBsAg Qualitative and Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo, respectively. The Kappa and Youden Index values were 0.4262 and 0.3244 and 0.2707 and 0.1925, respectively, compared to each of the two reference tests. Conclusion: The results show that the HIV/HCV/HBsAg combined rapid test has poor diagnostic efficiency and should not be recommended for the diagnosis of these viruses.

Expression and immunoreactivity of HCV/HBV epitopes

AIM： To develop the epitope-based vaccines to prevent Hepatitis C virus （HCV）/Hepatitis B virus （HBV） infections. METHODS： The HCV core epitopes C1 STNPKPQRKTKRNTNRRPQD （residuals aa2-21） and C2 VKFPGGGQIVGGVYLLPRR （residuals aa22-40）, envelope epitope E GHRMAWDMMMNWSP （residuals aa315-328） and HBsAg epitope S CTTPAQGNSMFPSCCCTKPTDGNC （residuals aa124-147） were displayed in five different sites of the flock house virus capsid protein as a vector, and expressed in E. coli cells （pET-3 system）. Immunoreactivity of the epitopes with anti-HCV and anti-HBV antibodies in the serum from hepatitis C and hepatitis B patients were determined. RESULTS： The expressed chimedc protein carrying the HCV epitopes C1, C2, E （two times）, L3C1-I2E-L1C2- L2E could react with anti-HCV antibodies. The expressed chimeric protein carrying the HBV epitopes S, I3S could react with anti-HBs antibodies. The expressed chimeric proteins carrying the HCV epitopes C1, C2, E plus HBV epitope S, L3C1-I2E-L1C2-L2E-I3S could react with anti- HCV and anti-HBs antibodies. CONCLUSION： These epitopes have highly specific and sensitive immunoreaction and are useful in the development of epitope-based vaccines.

Simultaneous detection of HBV and HCV by multiplex PCR normalization

AIM: To design and establish a method of multiplex PCR normalization for simultaneously detecting HBV and HCV.METHODS: Two pairs of primers with a 20 bp joint sequence were used to amplify the target genes of HBV and HCV by two rounds of amplification. After the two rounds of amplification all the products had the joint sequence. Then the joint sequence was used as primers to finish the last amplification. Finally multiplex PCR was normalized to a single PCR system to eliminate multiplex factor interference. Four kinds of nucleic acid extraction methods were compared and screened. A multiplex PCR normalization method was established and optimized by orthogonal design of 6 key factors. Then twenty serum samples were detected to evaluate the validity and authenticity of this method.RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic index and efficiency were 83.3%, 70%, 153.3% and 72.2%,respectively for both HBsAg and anti-HCV positive patients,and were 78.6%, 80%, 258.6% and 79.2%, respectively for HBsAg positive patients, and were 75%, 90%, 165% and 83.3%, respectively for anti-HCV positive patients.CONCLUSION: The multiplex PCR normalization method shows a broad prospect in simultaneous amplification of multiple genes of different sources. It is practical, correct and authentic, and can be used to prevent and control HBV and HCV.

DNA immunization with fusion genes encoding different regions of hepatitis C virus E2 fused to the gene for hepatitis B surface antigen elicits immune responses to both HCV and HBV

AIM: Both Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus(HCV) are major causative agents of transfusion-associatedand community-acquired hepatitis worldwide. Developmentof a HCV vaccine as well as more effective HBV vaccines isan urgent task. DNA immunization provides a promisingapproach to elicit protective humoral and cellular immuneresponses against viral infection. The aim of this study is toachieve immune responses against both HCV and HBV by DNAimmunization with fusion constructs comprising various HCVE2 gene fragments fused to HBsAg gane of HBV.METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were immunized with plasmid DNAexpressing five fragments of HCV E2 fused to the gene forHBsAg respectively. After one primary and one boostingimmunizations, antibodies against HCV E2 and HBsAg weretested and subtyped in ELISA. Splenic cytokine expressionof IFN-γ and IL-10 was analyzed using an RT-PCR assay.Post-immune mouse antisera also were tested for theirability to capture HCV viruses in the serum of a hepatitis Cpatient in vitro.RESUTLTS: After immunization, antibodies against bothHBsAg and HCV E2 were detected in mouse sera, withIgG2a being the dominant immunoglobulin sub-class. High-level expression of INF-γ was deuetected in cultured splenic cells.Mouse antisera against three of the five fusion constructs wereable to capture HCV viruses in an in vitro assay.CONCLUSION: The results indicate that these fusionconstructs could efficiently elicit humoral and Th1 dominantcellular immune responses against both HBV S and HCV E2antigens in DNA-immunized mice. They thus could serve ascandidates for a bivalent vaccine against HBV and HCVinfection. In addition, the capacity of mouse antisera againstthree of the five fusion constnucts to capture HCV virusses invitro suggested that neutralizing epitopes may be present inother regions of E2 besides the hypervariable region 1.

HBV and HCV infection and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Introduction Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)is a highly lethal malignancy,with a poor overall fiveyear survival.Its dismal prognosis,even after curative resection,depends on its advanced stage at diagnosis,early metastatic spread,aggressive biological behavior and inefficacy of available systemic therapies.[1]To date,epidemiological studies have identified some risk factors for this cancer,including cigarette smoking habit,family history as well as high dietary fat consumption,alcohol abuse,diabetes mellitus,metabolic syndrome and chronic pancreatitis history.[1]

Significant increase in HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis infections among blood donors in West Bengal, Eastern India 2004-2005: Exploratory screening reveals high frequency of occult HBV infection

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among blood donors in Kolkata, Eastern India for two consecutive years and to conduct a pilot study to explore the presence of HBV DNA among hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative but anti-HBc positive blood donors. METHODS: Seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV was studied among 113 051 and 106 695 voluntary blood donors screened in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Moreover, a pilot study on 1027 HBsAg negative donors was carried out for evaluating the presence of HBV DNA by PCR on HBsAg negative/anti- HBc positive donors. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in the prevalence of HBV (1448 vs 1768, P < 0.001), HIV (262 vs 374, P < 0.001), HCV (314 vs 372, P = 0.003) and syphilis (772 vs 853, P = 0.001) infections was noted among blood donors of Kolkata West Bengal in 2005 as compared to 2004. Moreover, the exploratory study on 1027 HBsAg negative donors revealed that 188 (18.3%)of them were anti-HBc positive out of which 21% were positive for HBV DNA. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study underscore the significantly increasing endemicity of hepatitis viruses, syphilis and HIV among the voluntary blood donors of our community. The pilot study indicates a high rate of prevalence of HBV DNA among HBsAg negative/anti-HBc positive donors and thus emphasizes the need for a more sensitive and stringent screening algorithm for blood donations.

Trace Element Levels, Cytokine Profile and Immune Activation Status in Plasma among Repeat Blood Donors with Asymptomatic HIV-1, HBV and HCV Infection

Imbalance of essential trace elements viz. Zinc, Selenium, Iron, Copper and Magnesium has been reported to influence disease course in HIV-1, HBV and HCV infections by altering immune status. A study was taken up to examine plasma levels of Th1 (IFN-γ and IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) categories of cytokines and immune activation markers (TNF-α, TNFR I and TNFR II) in an asymptomatic group of HIV-1, HBV and HCV infected blood donors in relation to trace elements. Plasma levels of Zn, Se and Mg were depressed in all the three groups of blood donors (P < 0.001 for all). Levels of Cu and Fe were depressed in HIV-1 infection (P < 0.001 for both), but elevated in HBV and HCV infections (P < 0.015 and < 0.001 for Cu and < 0.001 for Fe in case of HBV and HCV infections respectively). IL-2 and IFN-γ were depressed in all the three groups of blood donors (P < 0.001). IL-4 and IL-10 levels were elevated in HBV and HCV infections (P < 0.001 for both). Immune activation markers were elevated in all the three groups of blood donors (P < 0.001 for all). HIV-1 infection showed positive correlations between Cu and IL-2, Zn and IFN-γ, and in HBV infection while positive correlations were found between Mg and TNFR I and TNFR II and Se with TNFR II. HCV infection showed a positive correlation between Se and IFN-γ (P < 0.001), Mg and IL-4 (P = 0.02), Fe and IL-10 (P < 0.01). The present study reveals possible relationship between trace element level alterations and alterations in cytokine and immune activation levels in HIV-1, HBV and HCV infection.

Evaluation of CD64 Index in HBV and in Chronic HCV Infections

Background and aims: CD64 [Fc gamma receptor 1 (FcγRI)] is a promising biomarker used in predicting severe bacterial infection. The study was designed to assess their level in all stages of HBV infection and in chronic HCV infection before and after treatment with direct acting antiviral therapy as a possible biomarker of inflammation. Patients and methods: A case-control study was conducted, 50 patients with different disease stages of HBV infection (10 acute, 15 chronic hepatitis, 15 liver cirrhosis (LC) and 10 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)), twenty patients with chronic HCV and 15 as a control group. Laboratory and imaging studies were evaluated. The levels of CD64 expressions in peripheral blood and CD64 Index were measured for all patients by flowcytometry using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti-CD64 monoclonal antibody. Results: The levels of CD64 expressions in peripheral blood and CD64 index were significantly higher in patients with HBV and HCV than in control group (P value = 0.01, 0.01 and 0.000, 0.000 respectively). They were increased significantly with disease progression in patients with HBV infection, acute hepatitis B infection showed the highest values. Their levels were significantly decreased in patients with HCV infection post treatment than before treatment. Conclusions: The levels of CD64 expressions in peripheral blood and CD64 index are considered good biomarkers of inflammation in viral hepatitis both B and C and could detect disease progression and also suppression of inflammation after antiviral therapy.

Prevalence of viral HBV and HCV among different group patients in Gujrat Pakistan

In this study we analyzed blood samples collected from 400 high risk patients for the prevalence of an inflammatory viral disease hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the help of standard kit assay and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the samples were selected randomly from the various places of District Gujrat, Pakistan. All the selected cases were first divided into four groups according to the age and sex (Group 1, Male below age 35 years;Group 2, Male above age 35 years;Group 3, Female below age 35 years;Group 4, Female above age 35 years), each group was comprised of 100 individual patients and analyzed for different parameters for the presence of HBV and HCV in comparison with positive and negative controls. The prevalence of HBV and HCV was higher in groups 2 (22%) and 4 (39%) respectively. Assay profile revealed that the incidence of HCV was higher in female patients as compare to the male patients. The present study indicates that more than 60% of the cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in the Region is attributable to hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Role of Plasma Osteopontin Level as a Predictor of Hepatic Fibrosis Regression and Response to Antiviral Treatment in Patients with Chronic HBV or Chronic HCV Infection

Background: Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus infection is one of the public health problems in Egypt. So we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of serum osteopontin as predictor of hepatic fibrosis regression and virological response in patients with chronic HBV or HCV infection. Methods: This study has been conducted on 74 HBeAg + ve chronic HBV infection, 74 chronic HCV infection and 74 healthy controls. HBV patients treated with Entecavir. HCV patients treated with sofosbuvir, daclatasvir with or without ribavirin. One year post HBeAg seroconversion and 3 months after end of regular antiviral treatment for patients with chronic HBV and chronic HCV infection respectively, hepatic condition was reevaluated. Results: 14.9% of patients with HBV, failed to achieve undetectable HBV DNA or HBeAg seroconversion and 2.7% of patients with HCV infection, failed to achieve SVR. In chronic HBV, pretreatment high serum osteopontin predict failure of virological response and hepatic fibrosis regression at a cutoff > 115.5, with 90.91% sensitivity, 82.54% specificity. Also high degree of liver stiffness predicts failure of hepatic fibrosis regression at a cutoff > 8.7, with 81.8% sensitivity, 73% specificity. Conclusions: In chronic HBV infection low osteopontin predicts good virological response and hepatic fibrosis regression. But it has no role in predicting SVR or hepatic fibrosis regression in chronic HCV infected patients.

Socio-Demographic and Occupational Aspects of HIV-HBV Co-Infection in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR): Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: HIV-HBV co-infection is a major public health problem that has not been sufficiently explored in the Central African workplace. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of HIV-HBV co-infection among people who living with HIV (PLHIV) in the infectious and tropical diseases department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de lAmiti Sino-Centrafricaine in Bangui. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021 in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department at the Amiti Sino-Centrafricaine University Hospital. It included the files of all PLHIV, which included the results of HBV serology. A standardized form was used to collect socio-demographic and professional data by documentary review. Data was analysed using Epi-Info 7 software. Means, proportions were calculated as well as Chi square witch was significant if p-value was below 0.05. Results: The study included 265 patients, 188 were women (70.1%) and 77 men (29.1%), giving a sex ratio of 0.45. Mean age was 35.8 years, higher in men (40 years) than in women (35.8 years) (p 0.0001). The age groups 25 to 34 (37.7%) and 35 to 44 (33.6%) were in the majority (71.3%). The majority of PLHIV were unemployed (57.1%), including housewives (43.0%). HBV prevalence was 14.3%, including 7.2% among the unemployed, who account for half of all co-infections. The search for associations between HIV-HBV co-infection and all socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status) and socio-professional categories showed no significant difference (p 0.05). Conclusion: PLHIV were predominantly young adults, female, and unemployed;no occupation was significantly associated with co-infection. The vast majority of co-infected people were not covered by the occupational health system (unemployed or informal sector). Urgent action is needed to improve workers access to occupational medicine in CAR.

Clinical, Biological, Immunological and Therapeutic Profile of Patients Co-Infected with HIV-HBV and/or HCV in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objective: HIV infection is often associated with HBV and HCV infection, together leading to high morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical, biological, immunological and therapeutic profile of patients co-infected with HIV-HBV and/or HCV. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study including 180 people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in the city of Kinshasa province was conducted. Socio-demographic, clinical, biological and serological characteristics were analyzed. Results: The frequency of HIV-HBV/HCV co-infection was 23.9%. The distribution of age and sex of patients did not differ significantly according to co-infection status. The notion of pedicure and manicure was significantly more observed in patients free from viral hepatitis (51.1% versus 32.6%, p = 0.034). The median duration of knowledge of the HIV status which was longer in the co-infected (4 years versus 2 years, p = 0.022). A lower median level of GPT was observed in co-infected compared to other patients (14 IU/L versus 20 IU/L, p = 0.041). Serum albumin (3.1 g/L versus 3.3 g/L, p = 0.034) and prothrombin (58.3% versus 65.6%, p = 0.045) were lower in HIV co-infected-VHB and/or VHC. The median INR was higher in co-infected than in other patients (1.6 versus 1.4;p = 0.009). Patients without therapy Antiretroviral (TARV) medication were more numerous in co-infected (20.9% versus 8.0%, p = 0.025). Conclusions: The profile of PLWHIV was dominated by the presence of pedicures and manicures with high transaminases and without anti-viral treatment.

海南省吸毒人员吸毒方式与HIV、HCV、HBV和梅毒感染调查分析

采用血清流行病学方法和行为问卷对 3市县戒毒所5 1 4名吸毒人员进行调查。结果 :单纯口吸者占 6 6 1 5 % ,静脉注射吸毒者占 33 85 % ,共用注射器占静脉吸毒者 2 4 71 % ,检出抗HIV、抗HCV、HBsAg和梅毒阳性率分别为 0 1 95 %、2 9 6 7%、2 2 85 %、7 0 3%。表明 :吸毒者是 4种传染病感染的高危人群 ,静脉 (共用针具 )吸毒方式对HIV、HCV感染较HBV。

2010～2011年广州地区输血传播HBV、HCV、HIV残余风险评估

目的评估广州地区输血传播HBV、HCV、HIV的残余风险,建立适合广州地区献血人群残余风险评估的数学模型。方法收集2010年1月～2011年12月551 047人次广州地区无偿献血者的基本资料及血液ELISA与核酸检测(NAT)的HBV、HCV、HIV数据,利用(WP/I)及WP/LTR模型分别评估重复献血者及初次献血者传播HBV、HCV、HIV的残余风险。结果 2010～2011年广州地区献血者HBV、HCV、HIV经ELISA后的残余风险分别为1/30 147、1/70 591、1/645 099;经NAT检测后的残余风险分别为1/46 643、1/723 526、1/1 254 770。结论广州地区重复献血者传播HBV、HCV、HIV的残余风险低于初次献血者;采用NAT检测后,献血者传播HBV、HCV、HIV的残余风险大大降低。

核酸扩增技术在献血者血液HBV DNA、HCV RNA及HIV-1 RNA筛查中的应用研究

目的探讨在我国无偿献血者的血液筛查中引进核酸扩增技术(NAT)的必要性,了解献血者血清学病毒标志物检测阴性、NAT检测阳性的感染状况。方法应用Roche PCR、PCR-微流芯片、实时荧光PCR方法对深圳市131 174人(次)血清学检测病毒标志物阴性的献血者进行HBV DNA、HCV RNA和HIV-1 RNA检测,对NAT阳性献血者追踪检测并做定量分析。结果HBV DNA阳性22例,阳性率为1/5 962,其中15例为抗-HBc阳性,阳性率为1/8 745;HCV RNA阳性1例,阳性率1/131 174;HIV-1 RNA未检出阳性。对14名HBV DNA阳性者的追踪发现,8人发生了血清转换现象。结论采用高灵敏度的NAT筛查献血者血液中的HBV和HCV,有助于提高输血及血液安全。

无偿献血者ALT报废域值与NAT-HBV/HCV检测结果分析

目的探讨无偿献血者ALT与核酸扩增技术(NAT-HBV/HCV)检测结果的相关性,为优化血液筛查策略提供理论依据。方法回顾性调查本站2006年12月—2007年12月共28 800份无偿献血者样本,用速率法进行ALT检测,ALT单项不合格样本用NAT-HBV/HCV检测;分析ALT值与ELISA-HBV/HCV-OD值的分布规律。结果共筛查出2 516份ALT单项不合格样本;经NAT-HBV/HCV检测出8份阳性,其中HBV-DNA阳性5份,HCV-RNA阳性3份;ALT≤80 U/L的献血者NAT-HBV/HCV阳性率明显低于ALT>80 U/L献血者(P<0.01);经ELISA-HBV/HCV检测OD值,95%ALT单项不合格样本ELSIA-HBV/HCV的OD值<Cut-off值的40%。结论将ALT报废域值设定为ALT≤70 U/L且ELSIA-HBV/HCV检测OD值<其Cut-off值的40%,能够较好地保证血液的安全性,并可减少血液浪费。

血源性艾滋病高发村村民HIV/HBV/HCV混合感染状况调查

目的了解中国中部血源性艾滋病高发村HIV/HBV/HCV混合感染状况。方法以血源性艾滋病高发村2岁以上村民1506人为调查对象,采静脉血检测HIV、HBV、HCV。结果1506人中,1180人进行了所有检测,总调查率78.4%。1180人中,HIV、HBV、HCV感染率分别为15.34%、5.34%、36.44%。HIV/HBV、HIV/HCV、HBV/HCV、HIV/HBV/HCV混合感染率分别为0.25%、12.12%、0.34%、0.34%;有有偿献血史者单项HIV、单项HCV、HIV/HCV感染率高于无有偿献血史者;无有偿献血史者HCV感染者的配偶HCV感染率78.13%(75/96)高于无有偿献血的HCV阴性者的配偶HCV感染率2.91%(19/654)(P<0.0001)。结论由于有偿献血,血源性艾滋病高发村存在较高水平的HIV、HBV或HCV混合感染,主要感染类型为HIV/HCV。

献血者HBV、HCV、HIV的单人份核酸检测

目的应用Procleix ULTRIO Assay和Procleix TIGRIS System进行献血者单人份病毒核酸检测(ID-NAT),以了解ELISA法筛查的HBV、HCV、HIV漏检率,同时对ID-NAT和汇集NAT(MP-NAT)模式进行比较。方法在进行2次ELISA法筛查的同时,应用ULTRIO试剂在TIGRIS系统上行ID-NAT检测,对有活性的标本再分别进行HBV、HCV、HIV的鉴别测定,对ID-NAT阳性标本再进行8个(MP-8-NAT)和16个(MP-16-NAT)样品的模拟混样检测。结果在10064名无偿献血者中,共检出10例ELISA法阴性、ID-NAT阳性标本,ELISA法筛查漏检率为0.99‰,该10例标本经鉴别实验确定为HBV DNA阳性;共检出28例ELISA法阳性、ID-NAT阳性标本,其中HCV6例、HBV22例。将28例ELISA法阳性、ID-NAT阳性及10例ELISA法阴性、ID-NAT阳性标本进行8个、16个样品模拟汇集,结果 MP-8-NAT、MP-16-NAT的阳性检出率分别下降为78.6%、75.0%和30.0%、20.0%。结论 2次ELISA法血清学筛查模式存在较高的HBV漏检;ID-NAT的灵敏度高于MP-NAT,对于ELISA法阴性、ID-NAT阳性标本,MP-NAT存在很高的漏检率。