Assessing the Detection of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus IgG in Suspected and Proven Cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes severe respiratory disease with significant mortality. Two testing methods are currently used for MERS-CoV diagnostics: nucleic acid detection (the gold standard) and serological analysis. In this study, we evaluated the detection of MERS-CoV-IgG in suspected and proven cases of MERS-CoV infection.

Prevalence and characterization of occult hepatitis B infection among blood donors in central Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of occult hepatitis B viral infections (OBIs)  among blood donors considering the clinical and epidemiological importance of identifying OBIs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between January 2011 and January 2012. Blood donors (n=8501) were screened for Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibodies (HBcAb).

Late-onset prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

In developed countries, Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection is rare due to efficient immunization programs. However, cases of nontoxigenic strains of C. diphtheriae infections, including endocarditis, have been reported recently.

Hepatitis G virus in Saudi blood donors and chronic hepatitis B and C patients.

Introduction: Screening blood donors for blood-borne pathogens is very critical for the recipient's safety. Similar to hepatitis B and C infections, hepatitis G infection is transmitted through contaminated blood and causes acute and chronic hepatitis. Previous reports have shown that the prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA among healthy Saudi donors was 1%-2%.

Correlation between hepatitis B surface antigen titers and HBV DNA levels.

Background/aim: To assess the correlation between serum HBsAg titers and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels in patients with hepatitis B envelop antigen-negative (HBeAg -ve) HBV genotype-D (HBV/D) infection.

Patients And Methods: A total of 106 treatment- naïve, HBeAg -ve HBV/D patients were included; 78 in the inactive carrier (IC) state and 28 in the active hepatitis (AH) stage. HBV DNA load and HBsAg titers were tested using TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and automated chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay, respectively.