SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in more than 2 million confirmed cases and 139,515 deaths in 213 countries, areas and territories as of 20th April 2020. Although reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction is the diagnostic test, screening studies for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are essential for our extensive knowledge of the viral spread, formation of collective immunity, prophylaxis and treatment algorithms for the infection. We investigated 586 outpatients, for IgM and IgG antibodies, by their request in Varna and the region of northeastern Bulgaria. All of them were patients of medical diagnostic laboratory "STATUS", Varna city. We used serological, immunochromatographic tests (rapid tests) at least seven days after suspected viral infection. Twenty-eight of the serum samples were SARS-CoV-2 Ab positive: 4.8% (95% CI: 3.2-6.9%, n ¼ 28). IgM Ab only were detected in 1.0% (95% CI: 0.4-2.2%, n ¼ 6), IgG Ab only in 1.2% (95% CI: 0.5-2.5%, n ¼ 7) and both IgM/IgG Ab in 2.6% (95% CI: 1.5-4.2%, n ¼ 15), from all of the tested individuals (n ¼ 586). In order to understand how many people have contracted the virus, to strengthen our collective immunity and to be able to assess the risk, in the aftermath, it is essential to investigate (IgM/IgG) antibody titers.
INRODUCTION: Hepatitis D (HDV) is the most interesting and unique among animal viruses. It causes viral hepatitis D only in individuals already infected with HBV (hepatitis B). This dual infection leads to the most aggressive hepatic dysfunction of all human viral hepatitis.AIM: This study was made to outline the hepatitis D virus among patients with chronic liver disorders in northeastern Bulgaria, in the sight of virus epidemiology, pathogenicity and viral genotype.
Citation: Tsaneva-Damyanova DT, Ivanova LI, Pavlova SN, Todorova SB, Popova TK. Evaluation of anti-HBs antibody immune response against hepatitis B virus in vaccinated people in North-Eastern Bulgaria region. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2019;61(4):572-78. doi: 10.3897/ folmed.61.e47760.
AbstractIntroduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most significant human pathogens responsible for a huge number of acute and chronic liver infectious diseases worldwide.Aim: To find the duration of post-vaccination immune response in individuals allocated to five age groups from 6 months to 20 years.Materials and methods: All tested subjects were born between 1999 and 2018 and therefore covered by the compulsory vaccination program against hepatitis B. For the serological marker anti-HBs Ab we investigated 449 serum samples taken from ambulatory people and patients of St Marina University Hospital in Varna.
Results:A positive antibody response (anti-HBs Ab > 10 mIU/ml) was reported in 79.7% (n = 51) of the group of subjects up to one year old, in 70.0% (n = 196) of the subjects in the age range 1 year/1 month to 15 years, and in 39.3% (n = 33) of the subjects 15 years/1 month to 20 years old. Female sex had a better post-vaccination response than male sex with statistically significant relationship between sex and anti-HBs Ab titer (χ 2 = 24.76, p <0.01).
Conclusions:Regardless of the mass immunization against HBV in Bulgaria, the relative share of chronic HBV infections does not show a downward trend. Therefore, it is very important to study the duration of the post-vaccination immune response by demonstrating the anti-HBs antibodies and to apply a booster dose from the vaccine if needed.
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a satellite virus that causes the most aggressive form of all viral hepatitis in individuals already infected with HBV (hepatitis B virus). In recent years, there has been a negative trend towards an increase in the prevalence of chronic hepatitis D in Europe, especially among immigrant populations coming from regions endemic for the virus. The aim of this review is to analyse the current epidemiology of chronic HDV, routes of transmission, prevalent genotype, its management, prevention, fighting stigma and options for viral control in European countries, such as Bulgaria.
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