Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) is endemic worldwide, but its prevalence varies in different geographical areas. While in the Brazilian Amazon, HDV is known to be endemic and to represent a significant public health problem, few studies have assessed its prevalence in other regions in the country. This study evaluated the seroprevalence of HDV among HBsAg chronic carriers from Maranhão state, a region located in the Northeast of Brazil. Among 133 patients, 5 had anti-HD, of whom 3 had HDV RNA. HDV genotypes were characterized by Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences from the HDAg coding region. HDV-3 was identified in one patient who lives in Maranhão, but was born in Amazonas state (Western Amazon basin). Phylogenetic analysis shows that this HDV-3 sequence grouped with other HDV-3 sequences isolated in this state, which suggests that the patient probably contracted HDV infection there. Surprisingly, the other two patients were infected with HDV-8, an African genotype. These patients were born and have always lived in Urbano Santos, a rural county of Maranhão state, moreover they had never been to Africa and denied any contact with people from that continent. This is the first description of the HDV-8 in non-native African populations. This genotype may have been introduced to Brazil through the slaves brought to the country from the West Africa regions during the 16-18th centuries. Our results indicate that the need of clinical and epidemiological studies to investigate the presence of this infection in other areas in Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is considered an important neglected disease that affects many countries of the world (Desjeux 2004). On the American continent, VL is caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania chagasi, which is transmitted to humans and other vertebrate hosts (e.g., dogs) through the bite of a female sandfly. Lutzomyia longipalpis is considered to be the main vector for VL in Brazil (Lainson & Rangel 2005).A high proportion of L. chagasi infected persons do not present any clinical symptoms of disease, even after a long incubation period (asymptomatic form) (Evans et al. 1992, Romero et al. 2009). Cohort studies in Brazil have described detection of asymptomatic seroconvertors with a sensitive and specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test using crude antigens from promastigotes (Badaró et al. 1986a, c) Malnutrition is considered one of the most important factors associated with the development of clinical symptoms of leishmaniasis (Alvar et al. 2006). The high frequency of Leishmania infection found in human beings, dogs and Lu. longipalpis in previous studies in the municipality of Raposa, state of Maranhão (MA), Brazil, may also be associated with poverty (Caldas et al. 2001(Caldas et al. , 2002.Notably, the current knowledge on the epidemiology of VL is mainly based on studies examining the prevalence of Leishmania infections only among humans. There are few studies that simultaneously examine L. chagasi infection across several known hosts and carriers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the asymptomatic L. chagasi infection rates in human beings, dogs and the vector Lu. longipalpis in the VL endemic area of Raposa. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODSThe study was performed from August 2006-July 2008 in Vila Maresia, Vila Marisol and Vila Pantoja; all three neighbourhoods are located in the municipality of Raposa situated in the northern coastal region of MA, approximately 28 km from the state capital, São Luis (Figure).In this study, the inclusion criteria for human subjects were the following: living in an endemic area for more than six months, no signs and symptoms of VL (fever for more than 2 weeks, hepatosplenomegaly, weight loss or mucocutaneous pallor) and no previous history of VL. As exclusion criteria, we considered a history of treatment for VL (including treatment failures and relapses), individuals with known immunodeficiency or currently using immunosuppressants and comorbidities (evidence of other conditions leading to splenomegaly, such as schistosomiasis and malaria).In a preliminary census survey, we found 1,417 inhabitants, 986 (70%) of whom participated in the study. This 30% loss was mainly due to internal and external migrations, as well as refusal to participate in the study. Overall, 986 (69.6%) out of 1,417 inhabitants that lived more than six months in the area and did not exhibit clinical VL symptoms participated in the study. From these, 857 individuals (86.9%) were from Vila Maresia, 77 individuals (7.7%) were from Vila Marisol and 52...

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The prevalence of HBsAg in pregnant women in this study confirmed that São Luís is a low endemicity area. Occult hepatitis B was not detected in these samples.

Occult hepatitis B (OHB) is characterized by the presence of HBV-DNA in the absence of HBsAg in the serum of patients. Hemodialysis patients are at high risk for hepatitis B virus and there are few data on the prevalence of OHB in this population, mainly in Brazil. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OHB in patients undergoing hemodialysis. A cross-sectional study was performed, including 301 patients on chronic hemodialysis at two dialysis centers in São Luís (Maranhão), northeast Brazil. Serological tests were performed for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV using enzyme immunoassays (ELISA); HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA were studied by real-time PCR. The mean age was 49 ± 15 years, and 128 (42%) were female. Serological tests confirmed that all samples were HBsAg negative. Anti-HBc was positive in 114 (38%) patients, anti-HBc and anti-HBs were simultaneously positive in 104 (35%), and anti-HBc alone was positive in 10 (3%). Tests were negative for anti-HBc and anti-HBs in 55 patients (18%). Anti-HBs was the only positive marker in 132 (44%) patients. Anti-HCV was positive in 15 (5%) patients with HCV-RNA present in 14 of them (93%). HBV-DNA was positive in seven cases (2.3%). There was no association of HBV-DNA with age, gender, time on dialysis, previous kidney transplant, or HBV serological pattern, but there was a positive correlation with the presence of anti-HCV (P < 0.001). OHB in chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis appears to be a relevant finding, suggesting that studying HBV-DNA in this population using sensitive molecular tests should be a recommended course of action, especially in candidates for renal transplant.