Changing prevalence of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Iceland.

At present eight hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes have been characterized: A to H. The most common genotype in Northern Europe is genotype A. So far there is no record of the specific HBV genotype distribution in Iceland.

TT virus infections among blood donors in Iceland: prevalence, genotypes, and lack of relationship to serum ALT levels.

Background: The TT virus (TTV) is a newly identified blood-borne virus. Its association with disease is still unknown, and screening of blood donors has not been implemented. Several genotypes of the TTV have been identified.

Hepatitis G virus infections in Iceland.

This study describes the prevalence of hepatitisG virus (HGV) in Iceland, in blood donors and in persons with parenteral risk factors. Among 370 randomly selected Icelandic blood donors, the prevalence of HGV viraemia was 3.8%, whereas the prevalence of HGV antibodies in the same donor group was found to be 13.

Selective augmentation of antibodies in various mucosal regions, after intranasal immunization with diphtheria in mice.

The kinetics of antibody responses were analyzed in various mucosal membranes as well as in the blood and the spleen after intranasal vaccination of mice with diphtheria toxoid. The results show a selective increase in antibody response in the respiratory area and the vagina followed by the gastrointestinal tract, but not in the spleen. IgG and IgM showed an increase 7 days after revaccination, followed by a rapid decline.

[Measurements of plasma HIV-1 RNA in Iceland.].

Objective: First to measure plasma HIV-1 RNA in Icelandic HIV infected individuals and second to evaluate the initial effects of new combination regimens on viral load and CD4+ cell counts in HIV infected patients in Iceland.

Material And Methods: The cohort studied consis notted of all HIV infected individuals we received samples from during the period September 1995 to November 1996. HIV-1 RNA and CD4+ cells were measured initially and subsequently every three to six months except when a change was made in the antiretroviral regimen, when samples were measured before the change, three to four weeks later and then every three to six months.