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Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C infection in Cyprus within the general population and high-risk cohorts.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Initial data on the molecular epidemiology of HCV infection in Cyprus showed a highly polyphyletic infection and multiple points of introduction into the general population. The continuation and expansion of this investigation is presented here including high risk groups. FINDINGS: The samples include additional subjects from the general population, a group of inmates and HIV/HCV coinfected individuals, whose strains were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced in partial Core-E1 and NS5B regions. The results confirm the broad genotype distribution and polyphyletic infection on the island, and no new subtypes were found. Monophyletic clusters between strains of the prisoners and the injecting drug users imply sharing of infected equipment, and highlight the risk of widespread transmission in these cohorts, although no spill-over to the general population was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study underline the impact of population movements and high-risk population groups on the changing molecular epidemiology of HCV, with strains moving to Europe from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe by means of immigration and modern transmission routes.

SUBMITTER: Demetriou VL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3221592 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C infection in Cyprus within the general population and high-risk cohorts.

Demetriou Victoria L VL Kostrikis Leondios G LG

BMC research notes 20111031

<h4>Background</h4>Initial data on the molecular epidemiology of HCV infection in Cyprus showed a highly polyphyletic infection and multiple points of introduction into the general population. The continuation and expansion of this investigation is presented here including high risk groups.<h4>Findings</h4>The samples include additional subjects from the general population, a group of inmates and HIV/HCV coinfected individuals, whose strains were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced in partial Core ...[more]

PMID: 22040780

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Project description:Enteroviruses (EVs) are associated with a broad spectrum of disease manifestations, including aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, hand, foot and mouth disease, acute flaccid paralysis and acute flaccid myelitis with outbreaks being reported frequently world-wide. The aim of this study was the molecular characterization of all enteroviruses detected in Cyprus in the ten-year period from January 2008 and December 2017 as well as a description of the circulation patterns associated with the most frequently encountered genotypes. For this purpose, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, nasal swab, skin swab and/or stool samples from 2666 patients with a suspected EV infection were analysed between January 2008 and December 2017. Enteroviruses were detected in 295 (11.1%) patients, which were then investigated further for epidemiological analysis by VP1 genotyping. Overall, 24 different enterovirus types belonging to three different species were identified. The predominant species was EV-B (209/295, 71%), followed by species EV-A (77/295, 26.1%). Only one virus belonged to species EV-D, whereas EV-C enteroviruses were not identified at all. The most frequent genotypes identified were echovirus 30 (26.1%), echovirus 6 (14.2%) and coxsackievirus A6 (10.9%). While Echovirus 30 and echovirus 6 frequency was significantly higher in patients older than 3 years of age, the opposite was observed for CV-A16 and EV-A71, which dominated in young children less than 3 years. Importantly, for the current study period a significant increase of previously only sporadically observed EV-A types, such as EV-A71 and CV-A16 was noted. A phylogenetic analysis of EV-A71 showed that the majority of the EV-A71 strains from Cyprus belonged to sub-genogroup C1 and C2, with the exception of one C4 strain that was observed in 2011. The data presented provide a comprehensive picture of enteroviruses circulating in Cyprus over the last decade and will be helpful to clinicians and researchers involved in the treatment, prevention and control of enteroviral infections by helping interpret trends in enteroviral diseases by associating them with circulating serotypes, for studying the association of enteroviruses with clinical manifestations and develop strategies for designing future EV vaccines.

Project description:BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious global health challenge. The widespread distribution of HBV is highlighted by multiple HBV genotypes associated with different geographical origin and transmission patterns, as well as, clinical outcomes. Investigating population HBV genotype composition and origin is therefore highly warranted.MethodsIn this molecular epidemiological study we analysed 1157 HBV S-gene sequences collected from patients in Norway, primarily in the period 2004-2011, and linked them to epidemiological data from the Norwegian surveillance system for communicable diseases.ResultsOf the patients with reported country of infection (n = 909), 10% (n = 93) were infected in Norway, but the majority (n = 816; 90%) stated that they became infected outside of Norway. Of the patients infected outside of Norway, most became infected in Southeast and East Asia (n = 465; 51%) and Central, West, and North Africa (n = 254; 28%). The distribution of HBV genotypes in Norway is dominated by genotype D (32%) followed by genotype A (22%), B and C (18 and 18%, respectively), and E (7%). Genotype B, C and E were phylogenetically categorized by a majority of sequences originating from distinct geographical regions, either Asia or Africa, whereas genotype A and D originated from multiple geographic regions. However, within genotype A and D, our molecular epidemiology analysis indicated a geographical clustering of sequences depending on their geographical origin.ConclusionsThe majority of HBV patients in Norway became infected outside of Norway and were represented by most common genotypes. Patients stated to have been infected in Norway were found primarily within genotype A and D, and were phylogenetically characterized by both small local clusters and interspersed sequences that clustered with non-Norwegian sequences, indicating that a proportion of the patients assumed to have been infected in Norway likely became infected outside of Norway although assumed the contrary.

Dataset Information

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C infection in Cyprus within the general population and high-risk cohorts.

Publications

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C infection in Cyprus within the general population and high-risk cohorts.

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