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Gentry Z, Zhao L, Faust RA, David RE, Norton J, Xagoraraki I. Wastewater surveillance beyond COVID-19: a ranking system for communicable disease testing in the tri-county Detroit area, Michigan, USA. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1178515. [PMID: 37333521 PMCID: PMC10272568 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1178515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wastewater surveillance has been utilized to monitor the disease in the United States through routine national, statewide, and regional monitoring projects. A significant canon of evidence was produced showing that wastewater surveillance is a credible and effective tool for disease monitoring. Hence, the application of wastewater surveillance can extend beyond monitoring SARS-CoV-2 to encompass a diverse range of emerging diseases. This article proposed a ranking system for prioritizing reportable communicable diseases (CDs) in the Tri-County Detroit Area (TCDA), Michigan, for future wastewater surveillance applications at the Great Lakes Water Authority's Water Reclamation Plant (GLWA's WRP). Methods The comprehensive CD wastewater surveillance ranking system (CDWSRank) was developed based on 6 binary and 6 quantitative parameters. The final ranking scores of CDs were computed by summing the multiplication products of weighting factors for each parameter, and then were sorted based on decreasing priority. Disease incidence data from 2014 to 2021 were collected for the TCDA. Disease incidence trends in the TCDA were endowed with higher weights, prioritizing the TCDA over the state of Michigan. Results Disparities in incidences of CDs were identified between the TCDA and state of Michigan, indicating epidemiological differences. Among 96 ranked CDs, some top ranked CDs did not present relatively high incidences but were prioritized, suggesting that such CDs require significant attention by wastewater surveillance practitioners, despite their relatively low incidences in the geographic area of interest. Appropriate wastewater sample concentration methods are summarized for the application of wastewater surveillance as per viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens. Discussion The CDWSRank system is one of the first of its kind to provide an empirical approach to prioritize CDs for wastewater surveillance, specifically in geographies served by centralized wastewater collection in the area of interest. The CDWSRank system provides a methodological tool and critical information that can help public health officials and policymakers allocate resources. It can be used to prioritize disease surveillance efforts and ensure that public health interventions are targeted at the most potentially urgent threats. The CDWSRank system can be easily adopted to geographical locations beyond the TCDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Gentry
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | | | - Randy E. David
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - John Norton
- Great Lakes Water Authority, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Irene Xagoraraki
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Yoon J, Park T, Kim A, Song H, Park BJ, Ahn HS, Go HJ, Kim DH, Lee JB, Park SY, Song CS, Lee SW, Choi IS. First report of equine parvovirus-hepatitis and equine hepacivirus coinfection in horses in Korea. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:2735-2746. [PMID: 34919324 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) and equine hepacivirus (EqHV) are etiologically associated with Theiler's disease (TD), causing fulminant equine hepatitis, but the transmission route and co-infection effect remain unclear. We determined EqPV-H and EqHV prevalence and coinfection rate in 160 serum and 114 faecal samples using nested polymerase chain reaction. Amino acid and nucleotide analyses were performed and phylogenetic trees were constructed. By measuring liver-specific parameters (AST, GGT, TBIL and A/G ratio), hepatopathological changes in viremia status were compared. We found a high prevalence (EqPV-H: 10.6% in serum, 5.3% in faeces; EqHV: 8.1% in serum) and coinfection rate (35.3% in EqPV-H) of TD-causing agents. The newly identified EqPV-H genomes showed high nucleotide and amino acid similarities with previously reported strains in the USA, China and Austria. In phylogenetic tree and recombination analysis, a natural recombination event was confirmed between Chinese and Korean strains. In the EqPV-H or EqHV viremic horses, AST was significantly elevated and at least two liver-specific parameters were outside the reference intervals in 43.5% (10/23) of horses. To our knowledge, this is the first prevalence field study of EqPV-H and EqHV using both serum and faeces, providing further evidence of faecal-oral transmission of TD. These epidemiologic and clinicopathologic analyses specify the risk factors of TD infection and promote disease prevention strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungho Yoon
- Equine Clinic, Jeju Stud Farm, Korea Racing Authority, Jeju, Korea.,Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Taemook Park
- Equine Clinic, Jeju Stud Farm, Korea Racing Authority, Jeju, Korea
| | - Ahram Kim
- Equine Clinic, Jeju Stud Farm, Korea Racing Authority, Jeju, Korea
| | - Heeeun Song
- Equine Clinic, Jeju Stud Farm, Korea Racing Authority, Jeju, Korea
| | - Byung-Joo Park
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee-Seop Ahn
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyeon-Jeong Go
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dong-Hwi Kim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joong-Bok Lee
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung-Yong Park
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chang-Seon Song
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang-Won Lee
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - In-Soo Choi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea
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Marie V, Lin J. Viruses in the environment - presence and diversity of bacteriophage and enteric virus populations in the Umhlangane River, Durban, South Africa. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2017; 15:966-981. [PMID: 29215360 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2017.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Due to the continued persistence of waterborne viral-associated infections, the presence of enteric viruses is a concern. Notwithstanding the health implications, viral diversity and abundance is an indicator of water quality declination in the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of viruses (bacteriophage and enteric viruses) in a highly polluted, anthropogenic-influenced river system over a 6-month period at five sampling points. Cytopathic-based tissue culture assays revealed that the isolated viruses were infectious when tested on Hep-G2, HEK293 and Vero cells. While transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the majority of the viruses were bacteriophages, a number of presumptive enteric virus families were visualized, some of which include Picornaviridae, Adenoviridae, Polyomaviridae and Reoviridae. Finally, primer specific nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR)/reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) coupled with BLAST analysis identified human adenovirus, polyomavirus and hepatitis A and C virus genomes in river water samples. Taken together, the complexity of both bacteriophage and enteric virus populations in the river has potential health implications. Finally, a systematic integrated risk assessment and management plan to identify and minimize sources of faecal contamination is the most effective way of ensuring water safety and should be established in all future guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronna Marie
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville), Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa E-mail:
| | - Johnson Lin
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville), Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa E-mail:
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Hepatitis C virus may have an entero-hepatic cycle which could be blocked with ezetimibe. Med Hypotheses 2017; 102:51-55. [PMID: 28478831 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus can lead to chronic infection, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. With more than 170 million people infected worldwide, eradication remains a challenge even with the revolutionary current direct antiviral agents (DAAs). The risk of resistance, the safety profile in some populations, the genotype specificity and the high price of current DAAs explain why there is still interest in developing host targeting agents (HTA) that may help overcome some of these difficulties. Specifically, targeting the entry of HCV to the cell seems like a promising strategy. Recently it has been shown that the cholesterol transporter NPC1L1, a protein located in the small bowel epithelium and in the canalicular membrane of the hepatocyte is also an HCV receptor. Just as this protein is key in the entero-hepatic cycle of cholesterol, we hypothesize that there is an entero-hepatic cycle of HCV that could be disrupted by blocking NPC1L1 with ezetimibe, an already approved and readily available safe drug. Ezetimibe, either alone or in combination with DAAs, could decrease relapse rates, reduce resistance and even make treatments cheaper.
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Monrroy H, Angulo J, Pino K, Labbé P, Miquel JF, López-Lastra M, Soza A. Detection of high biliary and fecal viral loads in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. GASTROENTEROLOGIA Y HEPATOLOGIA 2017; 40:339-347. [PMID: 28249699 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The life cycle of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is closely associated with lipid metabolism. Recently, NPC1L1 (a cholesterol transporter) has been reported to function as an HCV receptor. This receptor is expressed in the hepatocyte canalicular membrane and in the intestine; serving as a key transporter for the cholesterol enterohepatic cycle. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that HCV might have a similar cycle, so we aimed to study the presence of HCV in bile and stools of infected patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Blood, feces, and duodenal bile samples were collected from patients infected with HCV. The biliary viral load was normalized to the bile salt concentration of each sample and the presence of HCV core protein was also evaluated. A total of 12 patients were recruited. HCV RNA was detected in the bile from ten patients. RESULTS The mean viral load was 2.5log10IU/60mg bile salt. In the stool samples, HCV RNA was detected in ten patients (mean concentration 2.7log10IU/g of feces). CONCLUSIONS HCV RNA is readily detectable and is present at relatively high concentrations in the bile and stool samples of infected patients. This may be relevant as a source of infection in men who have sex with men. Biliary HCV secretion may perhaps play a role in the persistence of viral infection via an enterohepatic cycle of the virus or intrahepatic spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Monrroy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Jenniffer Angulo
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Instituto Milenio de Inmunología e Inmunoterapia, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunología Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Karla Pino
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Instituto Milenio de Inmunología e Inmunoterapia, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunología Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Pilar Labbé
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | | | - Marcelo López-Lastra
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Instituto Milenio de Inmunología e Inmunoterapia, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunología Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Alejandro Soza
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
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Ramakrishnaiah V, van der Laan LJW. Hepatitis virus hijacks shuttle: exosome-like vesicles provide protection against neutralizing antibodies. Hepatology 2014; 59:2416-8. [PMID: 24273053 DOI: 10.1002/hep.26943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2013] [Revised: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 11/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Savasi V, Parrilla B, Ratti M, Oneta M, Clerici M, Ferrazzi E. Hepatitis C virus RNA detection in different semen fractions of HCV/HIV-1 co-infected men by nested PCR. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2010; 151:52-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2010.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2009] [Revised: 02/08/2010] [Accepted: 03/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
Hepatitis C (HCV) is the disease that has affected around 200 million people globally. HCV is a life threatening human pathogen, not only because of its high prevalence and worldwide burden but also because of the potentially serious complications of persistent HCV infection. Chronicity of the disease leads to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease. HCV positive hepatocytes vary between less than 5% and up to 100%, indicating the high rate of replication of viral RNA. HCV has a very high mutational rate that enables it to escape the immune system. Viral diversity has two levels; the genotypes and Quasiaspecies. Major HCV genotypes constitute genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 while more than 50 subtypes are known. All HCV genotypes have their particular patterns of geographical distribution and a slight drift in viral population has been observed in some parts of the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazish Bostan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad-45320, Pakistan
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Savasi V, Ferrazzi E, Fiore S. Reproductive assistance for infected couples with bloodborne viruses. Placenta 2008; 29 Suppl B:160-5. [PMID: 18790329 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2008.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2008] [Revised: 08/07/2008] [Accepted: 08/07/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
During the past 15 years Assisted Reproduction has been facing a new demand from patients requiring ART: couples at risk of partner to partner, and mother to child transmission of viral infections, mainly HIV-1, HCV and HIV-HCV co-infected partners. The general conditions and life expectancy of many patients with HIV infection are very good, and three-quarters of these individuals are in their reproductive years. For these reasons, a large number of young couples are expected to make future plans to have children. This desire is not easy to realize for serodiscordant couples, if we consider that, in order to avoid HIV virus transmission, it is necessary to encourage the condom use in vaginal and anal contacts. On the other hand infertile discordant HCV couples need to be included in protocols of controlled assisted reproduction procedures to avoid any risk of HCV transmission to the partner. In this paper we consider assisted reproduction in discordant couples for HIV or HCV-positive men.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Savasi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sacco Clinical Sciences Institute, University of Milan Medical School, Via GB Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
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Schuurman T, Lankamp P, van Belkum A, Kooistra-Smid M, van Zwet A. Comparison of microscopy, real-time PCR and a rapid immunoassay for the detection of Giardia lamblia in human stool specimens. Clin Microbiol Infect 2007; 13:1186-91. [PMID: 17949440 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01836.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Giardia lamblia is one of the most common intestinal parasites worldwide, with microscopy being the diagnostic reference standard for use with human stools. However, microscopy is time-consuming, labour-intensive and lacks sensitivity when single stools are examined. In the present study, microscopy, real-time PCR and a rapid immunoassay were compared for the detection of G. lamblia in human stools. All three methods were highly sensitive, with values of 99%, 100% and 98%, respectively. Specificity and positive and negative predictive values were >or=97%, except when using real-time PCR, for which the specificity and positive predictive value were 92% and 93%, respectively. The lower specificity of real-time PCR was associated mostly with failure to detect specimens regarded as true positives for G. lamblia DNA, although cross-contamination was suspected in a minority of cases because of the large amount of G. lamblia DNA present in most positive specimens. It was concluded that microscopy should remain the primary diagnostic tool for identifying G. lamblia in human stools, mainly because of its ability to simultaneously detect other gastrointestinal parasites. However, the simple and rapid immunoassay is a valuable tool to decrease turn-around time. Real-time PCR provides additional sensitivity, although there is a risk of cross-contamination. Based on this observation, and the need for other real-time assays to be developed to detect other intestinal parasites, real-time PCR is currently useful only as an additional test supplementary to microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Schuurman
- Department of Research and Development, Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Comparative evaluation of in-house manual, and commercial semi-automated and automated DNA extraction platforms in the sample preparation of human stool specimens for a Salmonella enterica 5'-nuclease assay. J Microbiol Methods 2007; 71:238-45. [PMID: 17942177 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2007.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2007] [Revised: 08/27/2007] [Accepted: 09/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, three methods (NucliSens miniMAG [bioMérieux], MagNA Pure DNA Isolation Kit III Bacteria/Fungi [Roche], and a silica-guanidiniumthiocyanate {Si-GuSCN-F} procedure for extracting DNA from stool specimens were compared with regard to analytical performance (relative DNA recovery and down stream real-time PCR amplification of Salmonella enterica DNA), stability of the extracted DNA, hands-on time (HOT), total processing time (TPT), and costs. The Si-GuSCN-F procedure showed the highest analytical performance (relative recovery of 99%, S. enterica real-time PCR sensitivity of 91%) at the lowest associated costs per extraction (euro 4.28). However, this method did required the longest HOT (144 min) and subsequent TPT (176 min) when processing 24 extractions. Both miniMAG and MagNA Pure extraction showed similar performances at first (relative recoveries of 57% and 52%, S. enterica real-time PCR sensitivity of 85%). However, when difference in the observed Ct values after real-time PCR were taken into account, MagNA Pure resulted in a significant increase in Ct value compared to both miniMAG and Si-GuSCN-F (with on average +1.26 and +1.43 cycles). With regard to inhibition all methods showed relatively low inhibition rates (< 4%), with miniMAG providing the lowest rate (0.7%). Extracted DNA was stable for at least 1 year for all methods. HOT was lowest for MagNA Pure (60 min) and TPT was shortest for miniMAG (121 min). Costs, finally, were euro 4.28 for Si-GuSCN, euro 6.69 for MagNA Pure and euro 9.57 for miniMAG.
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de Roda Husman AM, Bartram J. Chapter 7 Global Supply of Virus-Safe Drinking Water. PERSPECTIVES IN MEDICAL VIROLOGY 2007; 17:127-162. [PMID: 32287591 PMCID: PMC7119133 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-7069(07)17007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
This chapter illustrates the recommendations and guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning water, sanitation, and health. The recommendations and guidelines are evaluated in the light of disease caused by human pathogenic viruses. The guidelines outline a preventive management framework for safe drinking water. The framework includes health-based targets to assist national authorities who are normally responsible to set the targets for the protection of public health from risks by exposure to drinking water. Assessing the adequacy of systems, defining and monitoring control measures, and establishing management plans are the three components of the so-called water safety plans. Achievement of health-based targets may be verified by independent surveillance to assess the safety of the drinking water through additional verification or audit-based approaches. This framework for safe drinking water can be adapted according to environmental, social, economic, and cultural circumstances of drinking water provision on the national, regional, and local level. The chapter concludes that viruses could be considered as biocolloids with specific properties such as size, shape, structure, charge, composition, and genome. These viral characteristics determine their behavior in the environment, resistance to natural inactivation and treatment, and disinfection processes. For each (re-)emerging virus these properties may be known or could be assessed predicting the effectiveness of possible intervention measures for prevention of waterborne disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria de Roda Husman
- National Institute of Public Health (RIVM), Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), WHO Collaborating Centre for Risk Assessment of Pathogens in Food and Water, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Gelderblom HC, Nijhuis LEJ, de Jong EC, te Velde AA, Pajkrt D, Reesink HW, Beld MGHM, van Deventer SJH, Jansen PLM. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells from chronic HCV patients are not infected but show an immature phenotype and aberrant cytokine profile. Liver Int 2007; 27:944-53. [PMID: 17696933 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01507.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by an insufficient immune response, possibly owing to impaired function of antigen-presenting cells such as myeloid dendritic cells (DCs). Therapeutic vaccination with in vitro generated DCs may enhance the immune response. Subsets of DCs can originate from monocytes, but the presence of HCV in monocytes that develop into DCs in vitro may impair DC function. Therefore, we studied the presence of HCV RNA in monocytes and monocyte-derived DCs from chronic HCV patients. METHODS Monocytes were cultured with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) for 6 days, and then with GM-CSF, IL-4, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), prostaglandin E2, IL-1beta and IL-6 for 2 days to generate mature DCs. HCV RNA was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Surface molecules were assessed by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was assessed by cytokine bead array. RESULTS HCV RNA was present in monocytes in 11 of 13 patients, but undetectable in mature DCs in 13 of 13 patients. The morphology of patient DCs was comparable with DCs from healthy controls, but the percentage of cells expressing surface molecules CD83 (P=0.001), CD86 (P=0.023) and human leucocyte antigen-DR (P=0.028) was lower in HCV patients. Compared with control DCs, patient DCs produced enhanced levels of IL-10 (P=0.0079) and IL-8 (P=0.0079), and lower levels of TNF-alpha (P=0.032), IL-6 (P=NS) and IL-1beta (P=0.0079). Patient and control DCs did not produce IL-12. CONCLUSIONS Monocyte-derived DCs from chronic HCV patients are not infected but show an immature phenotype and aberrant cytokine profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huub C Gelderblom
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, AMC Liver Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Abou-Setta AM. Transmission risk of hepatitis C virus via semen during assisted reproduction: how real is it? Hum Reprod 2004; 19:2711-7. [PMID: 15489242 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk of viral transmissibility in assisted reproduction is still a much-debated issue, especially for hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is a common causative agent for parenterally transmitted viral hepatitis. In addition, it has been incriminated in other routes of transmission, including sexual transmission and nosocomial infections. The management of infertility, in association with HCV, has sparked debates about the potential risk of spread of infection to virus-free individuals, embryos and/or semen. The lack of worldwide-accepted screening policies has helped to fuel this debate. Today, it is evident that there is a potential risk of spread of HCV through biological fluids, including semen, to other individuals. This risk can only be marginalized by the use of well-established criteria for safety in infertility centres, and by the use of proper initial detection and segregation of potentially hazardous materials. Techniques and protocols have been established to help the andrologist and embryologist to safeguard patients against such dangers, and should be imposed in all centres, allowing HCV-positive males to enter their assisted reproduction programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Abou-Setta
- The Egyptian IVF-ET Center, 3, Street 161, Hadayek El Maadi, Cairo 11431, Egypt.
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