Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and HEV antibody status: A case-control study from Lazio, Italy.

Introduction: Few studies have pointed to the possible role of infectious diseases in triggering Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Given the association of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) with Guillain Barrè syndrome, we conducted a case-control study to determine the possible association of HEV infection with CIDP, analyzing possible risk factors for acquiring HEV infection in both CIDP patients and controls.

Materials And Methods: 82 CIDP and 260 from the general population have provided some personal information (demographics, anamnestic data and recognized risk factors for HEV infection) and underwent venipuncture blood sampling for virological assays testing for anti-HEV IgG and IgM with ELISA and RNA-HEV performing RT-PCR.

Epidemiological and molecular characterization of HBV and HCV infections in HIV-1-infected inmate population in Italy: a 2017-2019 multicenter cross-sectional study.

HBV/HCV co-infection is common in HIV-1-infected prisoners. To investigate the characteristics of HIV co-infections, and to evaluate the molecular heterogeneity of HIV, HBV and HCV in prisoners, we carried-out a multicenter cross-sectional study, including 65 HIV-1-infected inmates enrolled in 5 Italian detention centers during the period 2017-2019. HIV-1 subtyping showed that 77.

Hepatitis B and C virus infection in patients with Systemic and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a multifactorial etiology. The primary aim of this study was to estimate HCV and HBV infection prevalence in a cohort of SLE and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE). We assessed the frequency of these infections in our cohort and the possible associations with disease clinical/laboratory features and disease activity status.

Retrospective analysis of acute HBV infections occurred in 1978-79 and 1994-95 in North-East Italy: increasing prevalence of BCP/pre-core mutants in sub-genotype D3.

Background: At the end of the 1970s, in Italy more than 2% of the general population was HBsAg carrier. In the late '70s and late '80s, two remarkable events might have impacted on HBV strains transmitted in North-East Italy: (a) the increased HBV incidence due to parenteral drugs between 1978 and 1982; (b) the preventive anti-HIV educational campaign, started locally in 1985.

Methods: To address if those events impacted on circulating HBV variants, acute cases occurred in North-East Italy in 1978-79 (n = 50) and 1994-95 (n = 30) were retrospectively analysed.

Hepatitis E virus infection prevalence among men who have sex with men involved in a hepatitis A virus outbreak in Italy.

Background: The routes of hepatitis E virus (HEV) transmission have still not been fully clarified. Here, we evaluated the possibility of sexual transmission of HEV, which remains a highly disputed issue.

Materials And Methods: Hepatitis E virus sexual transmission risk was assessed by comparing the prevalence of HEV infection in a sample of 196 Italian men who have sex with men (MSM) involved in a multi-country hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak, and in 3,912 Italian male blood donors selected from the same regions and provinces as the MSM.

Sensitivity of hepatitis C virus rapid tests in detecting antibodies in general population.

Background: Evaluation of clinical performance of the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) rapid tests were carried out mostly in chronic hepatitis C patients and in individuals at high risk of HCV infection.

Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of OraQuick and Wantai rapid tests on archived serum samples from 1408 individuals (mean age 46, range 18-90; 65% female) recruited with a systematic sampling procedure during a general population survey.

Results: The analysis of samples by Ortho HCV 3.

Incidence of hepatitis E virus infection among blood donors in a high endemic area of Central Italy.

In Europe, autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is mainly a foodborne zoonosis, but it is also transmitted by blood transfusion. Despite the numerous prevalence surveys, only a few studies have investigated HEV incidence. We aimed to determine HEV incidence and risk factors among blood donors in a hyperendemic area in Central Italy.

Hepatitis E virus genotypes and subgenotypes causing acute hepatitis, Bulgaria, 2013-2015.

Background: In industrialized areas of the world, including Europe, Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is considered an emerging pathogen. In fact, autochthonous cases caused by HEV genotype 3 (HEV-3) are increasingly reported. Several studies described the human HEV-3 subtypes and strains circulating in West Europe countries; in contrast, very little is known about the HEV strains responsible for acute hepatitis E in countries of East Europe/Balkans, such as Bulgaria.

A nationwide retrospective study on prevalence of hepatitis E virus infection in Italian blood donors.

Background: In Europe, hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is mainly a food-borne zoonosis, but it can also be transmitted by blood transfusion. It is usually a mild and self-limited infection. However, immunocompromised persons, who are also those more likely to undergo blood transfusions, may develop chronic hepatitis and often cirrhosis.

Hepatitis a virus genotypes and strains from an endemic area of Europe, Bulgaria 2012-2014.

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is endemic in Eastern European and Balkan region countries. In 2012, Bulgaria showed the highest rate (67.13 cases per 100,000) in Europe.

Correlates of infection and molecular characterization of blood-borne HIV, HCV, and HBV infections in HIV-1 infected inmates in Italy: An observational cross-sectional study.

Coinfection of blood-borne hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses (HBV and HCV, respectively) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive individuals frequently occurs in inmate population and peculiar viral strains and patterns of virological markers may be observed.Plasma from 69 HIV-1-positive inmates was obtained from 7 clinical centers connected with correctional centers in different towns in Italy. HIV, HBV, and HCV markers were tested by commercial assays.

High prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus antibodies among blood donors in central Italy, February to March 2014.

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies is highly variable in developed countries, which seems partly due to differences in assay sensitivity. Using validated sensitive assays, we tested 313 blood donors attending a hospital transfusion unit in central Italy in January and February 2014 for anti-HEV IgG and IgM and HEV RNA. Data on HEV exposure were collected from all donors.

Evaluation of rapid tests for diagnosis of acute hepatitis E.

Background: Hepatitis E virus diagnosis still presents difficulties due to discordant results among diagnostic tests.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of two rapid tests for detection of anti-HEV IgM antibodies.

Study Design: The rapid tests were compared with three commercial anti-HEV ELISA assays and one Real-Time PCR assay on 59 sera from patients with acute viral non-AC hepatitis.

Key Role of Sequencing to Trace Hepatitis A Viruses Circulating in Italy During a Large Multi-Country European Foodborne Outbreak in 2013.

Background: Foodborne Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) outbreaks are being recognized as an emerging public health problem in industrialized countries. In 2013 three foodborne HAV outbreaks occurred in Europe and one in USA. During the largest of the three European outbreaks, most cases occurred in Italy (>1,200 cases as of March 31, 2014).

Evidence for the presence of autochthonous (locally acquired) cases of acute hepatitis E virus infections in Italy since the 80s.

Background: Autochthonous (locally acquired) cases of acute hepatitis E virus have been recently reported in several developed countries.

Aim: To evidence cases, if any, and characteristics of acute hepatitis E virus infections in North-East of Italy several years ago.

Methods: In 2014, stored sera of 165 nonA-nonB acute hepatitis referred to the hospital of Padua during the period 1978-1991 were tested for hepatitis C virus antibodies by EIA III and for anti-hepatitis E virus IgM by Wantai HEV IgM ELISA.

Migration pattern of hepatitis A virus genotype IA in North-Central Tunisia.

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) epidemiology in Tunisia has changed from high to intermediate endemicity in the last decades. However, several outbreaks continue to occur. The last reported sequences from Tunisian HAV strains date back to 2006.

Molecular characterisation of human hepatitis E virus from Italy: comparative analysis of five reverse transcription-PCR assays.

Background: Hepatitis E (HEV) is an important public-health concern as a major cause of enterically transmitted hepatitis worldwide. In industrialised countries it is considered rare, and largely confined to travellers returning from endemic areas. However, autochthonous (locally acquired) HEV infection is also emerging in these regions.

HBV whole-genome mutation profile in HIV-1/HBV coinfected patients in a long-term follow-up study.

Purpose: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-infected patients frequently harbour hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV, respectively). Possible modifications of the natural history of hepatitis B may occur. The aim of this study was to characterise HBV diversity and evolutionary and mutational viral genome profiles in HIV-1/HBV coinfections.

Hepatitis E virus and hepatitis A virus exposures in an apparently healthy high-risk population in Italy.

Purpose: The prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) and anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV), as well as the possible links with socio-demographic and other viral risks factors, were evaluated in an inmates population.

Methods: The study population consisted of 973 consecutively recruited inmates of eight Italian prisons.

Results: The anti-HEV prevalence was 11.

Hepatitis C virus infection in an endemic area of Southern Italy 14 years later: evidence for a vanishing infection.

Background: In a 1996 survey, prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV) in a southern Italian town was 12.6%.

Aims: To identify changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Hepatitis B specific T cell immunity induced by primary vaccination persists independently of the protective serum antibody level.

In 2005, in accordance with recommendations made by the European Medicines Agency, the Italian Drug Agency ordered withdrawal of the hexavalent Hexavac(®) vaccine (Sanofi Pasteur MSD) from the market. Concerns had been raised about the low immunogenicity of the hepatitis B virus component of the vaccine, assessed by measurement of serum antibody levels, and its potential consequences on long-term protection against hepatitis B infection. We evaluated memory T cell response to establish whether there are differences in the protective mechanisms among children who had received either Hexavac(®) or Infanrix-hexa(®) (GlaxoSmithKline) as their primary vaccination.

Historical study of acute hepatitis B in subjects with or without hepatitis C infection.

Background: The epidemiological pattern of hepatitis B virus infection in Italy has greatly changed over the past decades. The aim of the study was to evaluate during time the epidemiological features of acute hepatitis B cases referred to an Infectious Disease Unit in North-East of Italy between 1978 and 1995.

Patients And Methods: Stored sera of 183 cases were tested for HBV markers, HBV genotypes, anti-Delta and anti-HCV.

Diagnosis of HEV infection by serological and real-time PCR assays: a study on acute non-A-C hepatitis collected from 2004 to 2010 in Italy.

Background: The impact of hepatitis E in developed countries, like Italy, still requires a clear definition. In the present study, we evaluated HEV infection in patients with acute non-A-C hepatitis by an approach comparing data from Real-time PCR and serological assays.

Methods: In a first analysis, sera from 52 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute viral non-A-C hepatitis in Italy were tested by in-house Real-Time PCR assay for identification of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) RNA and by anti-HEV IgM and IgG assays.

Switched memory B cells maintain specific memory independently of serum antibodies: the hepatitis B example.

The immunogenicity of a vaccine is conventionally measured through the level of serum Abs early after immunization, but to ensure protection specific Abs should be maintained long after primary vaccination. For hepatitis B, protective levels often decline over time, but breakthrough infections do not seem to occur. The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether, after hepatitis B vaccination, B-cell memory persists even when serum Abs decline.