Low prevalence of hepatitis delta infection in Cuban HBsAg carriers: Prospect for elimination.

Introduction: Infection with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is one of the most severe hepatitis B virus (HBV) complications, with a more rapid progression to cirrhosis and an increased risk of hepatic decompensation and death. Data on HDV infection in Cuba are limited. The aims of our study were to determine the HDV prevalence in HBsAg carriers and to characterize the HDV strains circulating.

Hepatitis E virus in Cuba: A cross-sectional serological and virological study in pigs and people occupationally exposed to pigs.

Surveillance of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in risk groups is an important strategy to monitor its circulation pattern and to timely detect changes thereof. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of HEV infections in pigs and humans from different regions of the country, to identify risk factors for increasing anti-HEV IgG prevalence and to characterize HEV strains. The presence of anti-HEV antibodies was assessed by commercial ELISA in serum samples from the general population, farm and slaughterhouse employees, as well as pigs sampled in the three regions of Cuba from February to September 2016.

Hepatitis B virus infection assessed 3 to 18 years after vaccination in Cuban children and adolescents born to HBsAg-positive mothers.

Thirty-two participants, aged between 3-18 years, born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers and vaccinated at birth were analyzed for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Overall, 56% had anti-HB titers ≥10 IU/L; five were positive for antibodies to the core antigen (anti-HBc), and two of these were also positive for HBsAg/DNA. One of the HBsAg/anti-HBc double-negative children presented with an unusual occult infection (HBV DNA-positive).

[Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for hepatitis B virus DNA quantification].

Introduction: viral DNA levels in serum samples are a useful marker to monitor the disease progression and the treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Commercial kits for this purpose are available, but they are considerably expensive.

Objectives: to evaluate the analytical performance of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for Hepatitis B virus DNA quantification.

Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 in humans and swine, Cuba.

This study was conduced to determinate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated to hepatitis E virus (HEV) exposition, in individuals who work in pig farms located at western of Artemise Province. The presence of HEV in human and swine samples and the phylogenetic analysis were evaluated. One hundred six workers (with an age range of 18-70years) were enrolled in this study.

HCV genotype determination in monoinfected and HIV co-infected patients in Cuba.

With the aim to characterize the HCV genotype distribution in Cuba, sera were collected from two subgroups: HCV-monoinfected and HCV/HIV co-infected patients. A combination of reverse transcription-PCR using genotype-specific primers, restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing was used to determine the genotype of 84 samples. Seventy-nine (94%) showed single infections (10 [12%] were genotype 1a and 69 [82%] genotype 1b) and 5 (6%) samples corresponded to mixed infections (2 [2%] with genotypes 1a/3a and 1 sample [1%] each with 1b/3a, 1b/4a and 1a/1b/3a).

Molecular characterization of hepatitis E virus in patients with acute hepatitis in Venezuela.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes a common infection in developing countries. HEV infection occurs as outbreaks, as sporadic clinical cases and as large epidemics in endemic areas. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of HEV infection in patients with clinical suspicion of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, referred to the Instituto Nacional de Higiene "Rafael Rangel" in Venezuela.

Dual infection with hepatitis A and E viruses in outbreaks and in sporadic clinical cases: Cuba 1998-2003.

Viral hepatitis ranks as the fifth cause of morbidity for infectious diseases in Cuba. Epidemics are observed frequently in the population, the hepatitis A virus being the main agent responsible for such epidemics. Previous reports also confirmed the circulation of the hepatitis E virus.

[Detection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers in HIV positive patients, 2000-2004].

A marked association exists among the hepatitis B virus (HBV), the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), since the transmission route and the risk groups are very similar. The objective of this paper was to know the coinfection among HBV, HCV and HIV in the studied period. 2 994 serum samples from HIV (+) patients were received at the National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis (IPK) during 2000-2004 to investigate hepatitis B surface antigen (HRsAg) and anti HCV antibodies, both by the UMELISA technique (Immunoassay Center, CIE, Cuba).

[Evaluation of the antiviral activity of medicinal plants against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in PLC/PRF/5 cells].

Calendula officinalis L., Psidium guajava L., Eucaliptus spp.

[Surveillance of viral hepatitis: laboratory results. Cuba, 1992-2004].

The results of the surveillance of the viral hepatitis in the period 1992-2004 are presented. The HAV infection is the most frequent association that originates pictures of acute viral hepatitis among the patients under 24 years old with positive HBsAg, followed by the hepatitis B virus. The hepatitis A virus alone or co-infected with the hepatitis B virus accounts for 48.

[Surveillance in children of mothers positive to hepatitis B surface antigen, 2000-2002].

This study was made as part of the Surveillance Program that has been implemented for 10 years for the perinatal control of hepatitis B in children of positive mothers. The control of hepatitis B is possible thanks to the existance of the vaccines against this entity. In Cuba, there is a safe and effective vaccine for its prevention.

Anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M antibodies in urine samples for rapid diagnosis of outbreaks.

The main goal of this study was to test the feasibility of using urine for diagnosing hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections. A correlation of 90.78% between the test results of urine and serum samples was obtained.