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This study aimed to standardise an in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) to allow quantification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum or plasma samples, and to compare this method with two commercial assays, the Cobas Amplicor HBV monitor and the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test. Samples from 397 patients from the state of São Paulo were analysed by all three methods. Fifty-two samples were from patients who were human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus positive, but HBV negative. Genotypes were characterised, and the viral load was measure in each sample. The in-house rtPCR showed an excellent success rate compared with commercial tests; inter-assay and intra-assay coefficients correlated with commercial tests (r = 0.96 and r = 0.913, p < 0.001) and the in-house test showed no genotype-dependent differences in detection and quantification rates. The in-house assay tested in this study could be used for screening and quantifying HBV DNA in order to monitor patients during therapy.

Introduction: This study aimed to monitor the seasonality of rotavirus infection, and gain insight into the variability of Brazilian strains. Methods: A total of 28 stool samples were analyzed from 698 revised cases of gastroenteritis during a norovirus outbreak in the summer of 2010 in Guarujá, Brazil. Diagnosis was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and sequencing. Results: Rotavirus infection was detected in 17.9% (5/28) of samples; 4 samples were G2P[4] genotype, and one G2P[4]+P[6] genotype. G2 and P[4] sequences showed a genetic relationship to strains from India and Russia, respectively. Conclusions: The seasonal pattern of rotavirus may be a consequence of human activity apart from climate factors.

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Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have identical transmission routes, explaining the high prevalence of coinfections. The main aim of this study was to detect fluctuations in serological HCV levels in HIV patients. Methods: We analyzed samples of 147 patients who attended an outpatient service that supports HIV/AIDS patients in São Paulo city. We also recruited 22 HCV-monoinfected patients who attended the Instituto Adolfo Lutz Laboratory in São Paulo city, to compare the test results. Serological testing of the blood samples was performed for the detection of HCV antibodies. The samples were then analyzed using real-time PCR for RNA viral quantification and sequencing. Results: We found that 13.6% of the study population was coinfected with HIV and HCV. In 20% of coinfected patients, fluctuations in serology results were detected in samples collected during the follow-up. No changes in anti-HCV serological markers were observed in HCV-monoinfected patients. An HCV viral load was detected in 9,5% of the samples collected from HIV patients. Conclusions: Our findings provide important clinical data to public health professionals and highlight the importance of periodic monitoring of HCV/HIV coinfected patients.

Objective: the aim of this study was to identify HBV genotypes in serum samples from patients from the state of São Paulo, received by the viral hepatitis laboratory, at the Virology Centre of Instituto Adolfo Lutz, from various municipalities. Methods: a total of 94 serum samples were randomly analyzed. Genotyping was performed using nested PCR for amplification of S and Pol regions from viral genome. Genotypes were identified comparing the sequences obtained with the sequences deposited in GenBank. Results: we were able to determine the genotype of 91 (97%) samples, as follows: genotype A (55.3%), D (32%), F (5.3%), C (3.2%) and G (1%). There are few data on the epidemiology of genotype G. This genotype has been detected in restricted areas around the world. Frequently, the genotype G infection occurs in HIV-positive male patients. In our case, the sample identified as G was also positive for HIV but in a female patient, which is an uncommon finding in the scientific literature. Conclusion: in this work, we identified the most frequent genotypes in São Paulo as well as the genotype G, rare among the genotypes found in our environment.