Genetic determinants of host- and virus-derived insertions for hepatitis E virus replication.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a long-neglected RNA virus and the major causative agent of acute viral hepatitis in humans. Recent data suggest that HEV has a very heterogeneous hypervariable region (HVR), which can tolerate major genomic rearrangements. In this study, we identify insertions of previously undescribed sequence snippets in serum samples of a ribavirin treatment failure patient.

Risk Factors for Hepatitis E Virus Infection and Eating Habits in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

There is a significant risk for ongoing and treatment-resistant courses of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in patients after solid organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of hepatitis E, including the dietary habits of patients. We conducted a retrospective single-center study with 59 adult kidney and combined kidney transplant recipients who were diagnosed with HEV infection between 2013 and 2020.

Insertions and deletions in the hypervariable region of the hepatitis E virus genome in individuals with acute and chronic infection.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis E virus is a major cause of acute hepatitis worldwide and can progress to chronicity in immunocompromised individuals. Various virus-host recombination events have been reported in the hypervariable region of the hepatitis E virus genome, but the patterns of assembly and selection remain unclear.

Methods: To gain further insight into viral evolution, we assessed the presence of low abundance variants in 16 samples from individuals with acute or chronic infection using a targeted next-generation sequencing approach.

Diversity of human astroviruses in Germany 2018 and 2019.

Aim of this study was to investigate the molecular diversity of human astroviruses (HAstV) in Germany. A follow-up study was performed with human stool samples collected in 2018-2019, which were genotyped retrospectively. A total of 2645 stool samples, collected between January 2018 and December 2019 from sporadic cases and outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis were analyzed.

Interferon-β Suppresses Transcriptionally Active Parvovirus B19 Infection in Viral Cardiomyopathy: A Subgroup Analysis of the BICC-Trial.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) is the predominant virus currently detected in endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs). Recent findings indicate that, specifically, transcriptionally active B19V with detectable viral RNA is of prognostic relevance in inflammatory viral cardiomyopathy. We aimed to evaluate B19V replicative status (viral RNA) and beneficial effects in a sub-collective of the prospective randomized placebo-controlled phase II multi-center BICC-Trial (Betaferon In Chronic Viral Cardiomyopathy) after interferon beta-1b (IFN-β) treatment.

Transcriptional Active Parvovirus B19 Infection Predicts Adverse Long-Term Outcome in Patients with Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is the predominant cardiotropic virus currently found in endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs). However, direct evidence showing a causal relationship between B19V and progression of inflammatory cardiomyopathy are still missing. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of transcriptionally active cardiotropic B19V infection determined by viral RNA expression upon long-term outcomes in a large cohort of adult patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in a retrospective analysis from a prospective observational cohort.

Identification of a Putative Novel Genotype of Avian Hepatitis E Virus from Apparently Healthy Chickens in Southwestern Nigeria.

Avian hepatitis E virus (aHEV) is the major etiological agent of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS), big liver and spleen disease (BLSD), and hepatic rupture hemorrhage syndrome (HRHS) in chickens. Infections with aHEV cause a significant decrease in egg production and increased mortality in chickens worldwide. However, studies on the prevalence of aHEV in Nigeria are scarce.

Hepatitis E: An update on One Health and clinical medicine.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the main causes of acute hepatitis and the de facto global burden is underestimated. HEV-related clinical complications are often undetected and are not considered in the differential diagnosis. Convincing findings from studies suggest that HEV is clinically relevant not only in developing countries but also in industrialized countries.

Detection of parvovirus mRNAs as markers for viral activity in endomyocardial biopsy-based diagnosis of patients with unexplained heart failure.

Erythroparvovirus (B19V) genomes have been detected in various organs of infected individuals including endothelial cells of the heart muscle. However, the role of B19V as a causative pathogen of myocardial damage is still unknown. The majority of reports focus on the presence of viral DNA ignoring proof of viral RNAs as important markers for viral activity.

Reverse genetics approaches for hepatitis E virus and related viruses.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Related viruses have been found in several animal species. Reverse genetics systems (RGSs), which enable the generation of infectious virus from cloned cDNA by transfection of cultured cells or intrahepatic injection into laboratory animals, have been developed for HEV genotypes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 as well as for avian HEV and rat HEV.

Comparison of two immunoassays for concurrent detection of HCV antigen and antibodies among HIV/HCV co-infected patients in dried serum/plasma spots.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen/antibody (Ag/Ab) assays offer the benefit of reducing the window period compared to assays that detect only HCV-Ab. In this study the performance of the Murex Ag/Ab (Murex, Abbott) and Monolisa Ag/Ab Ultra (Monolisa, Bio-Rad) ELISAs was compared for the use of filter dried serum/plasma spots (DS/PS) with a focus on the sensitivity and the percentage of correct positive test results. Correct positive ELISA results were assumed for samples that subsequently tested positive for HCV RNA by RT-qPCR, or RNA negative samples that tested positive in a Western blot (confirmed ELISA results).

Establishment of an anti-hepatitis C virus IgG avidity test for dried serum/plasma spots.

Monitoring recency of infection helps to identify current transmission in vulnerable populations for effective disease control. We have established an in-house avidity based hepatitis C virus (HCV) recency assay based on the Monolisa Anti-HCV PLUS Version 3 ELISA kit for use of dried serum/plasma spots (DS/PS) in order to distinguish recent and long-term infections. A first panel of DS/PS (n = 218; genotype 1 n = 170 and non-genotype 1 n = 48) consisting of primary and at least one follow up sample was used to analyze the temporal changes of the Avidity Index (AI) over time.

Rituximab-Containing Treatment Regimens May Imply a Long-Term Risk for Difficult-To-Treat Chronic Hepatitis E.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging disease in industrialized countries which is usually characterized by a self-limited course. However, there is an increased risk of HEV persistence in immunocompromised risk populations, comprising patients following solid organ transplantation or hematological malignancies. Recently, chronic HEV infection following rituximab-containing treatment regimens has been described.

Detection and Characterization of Human Enteroviruses, Human Cosaviruses, and a New Human Parechovirus Type in Healthy Individuals in Osun State, Nigeria, 2016/2017.

Human enteroviruses and human parechoviruses are associated with a broad range of diseases and even severe and fatal conditions. For human cosaviruses, the etiological role is yet unknown. Little is known about the circulation of non-polio enteroviruses, human parechoviruses, and human cosaviruses in Nigeria.

Risk behaviours and viral infections among drug injecting migrants from the former Soviet Union in Germany: Results from the DRUCK-study.

Background: High prevalence of drug use and injection-related risk behaviours have been reported among former Soviet Union (FSU)-migrants. To investigate hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV seroprevalence and related risk behaviours in this subgroup in Germany, we compared first generation FSU-migrants and native Germans using data from a sero-behavioural survey of people who inject drugs (PWID).

Methods: Current injectors were recruited using respondent-driven sampling in eight German cities in 2011-2014.

Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Chronic Hepatitis E Infection in German Renal Transplant Recipients With Elevated Liver Enzymes.

Background: Elevated liver enzymes are frequently observed in renal transplant recipients and warrant further exploration. In immunosuppressed patients, hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection may cause chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and extrahepatic manifestations such as renal injury.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence, clinical correlates, and outcome of chronic HEV infection in a cohort of renal transplant recipients with elevated liver enzymes.

Parvovirus B19-induced vascular damage in the heart is associated with elevated circulating endothelial microparticles.

Background: Diagnosis of viral myocarditis is difficult by clinical criteria but facilitated by detection of inflammation and viral genomes in endomyocardial biopsies. Parvovirus B19 (B19V) targets endothelial cells where viral nucleic acid is exclusively detected in the heart. Microparticles (MPs) are released after cell damage or activation of specific cells.

Detection and genome characterization of four novel bat hepadnaviruses and a hepevirus in China.

Background: In recent years, novel hepadnaviruses, hepeviruses, hepatoviruses, and hepaciviruses have been discovered in various species of bat around the world, indicating that bats may act as natural reservoirs for these hepatitis viruses. In order to further assess the distribution of hepatitis viruses in bat populations in China, we tested the presence of these hepatitis viruses in our archived bat liver samples that originated from several bat species and various geographical regions in China.

Methods: A total of 78 bat liver samples (involving two families, five genera, and 17 species of bat) were examined using nested or heminested reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) with degenerate primers.

High variability of HIV and HCV seroprevalence and risk behaviours among people who inject drugs: results from a cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling in eight German cities (2011-14).

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) due to sharing injection paraphernalia and unprotected sex. To generate seroprevalence data on HIV and HCV among PWID and related data on risk behaviour, a multicentre sero- and behavioural survey using respondent driven sampling (RDS) was conducted in eight German cities between 2011 and 2014. We also evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of RDS for recruiting PWID in the study cities.

Concordance between self-reported and measured HIV and hepatitis C virus infection status among people who inject drugs in Germany.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are disproportionately affected by both HIV and hepatitis C infection (HCV). Awareness of infection status is essential to ensure linkage to appropriate healthcare for those infected, who need treatment and regular follow-up, as well as for uninfected individuals, who need access to targeted testing and counselling services. In this paper we compare self-reported HIV and HCV status with serological markers of infection among PWID recruited through respondent driven sampling.

High Prevalence and High Incidence of Coinfection with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis and Low Rate of Effective Vaccination against Hepatitis B in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men with Known Date of HIV Seroconversion in Germany.

Objectives: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at higher risk for coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis than the general population. HIV infection and these coinfections accelerate disease progression reciprocally. This study evaluated the prevalence and incidence of these coinfections in HIV1-positive MSM in Germany.