The objective of this report is to present data and expert knowledge on poverty and zoonoses hotspots to inform prioritisation of study areas on the transmission of disease in emerging livestock systems in the developing world, where prevention of zoonotic disease might bring greatest benefit to poor people

Mapping of poverty and likely zoonoses hotspots

Liver diseases in the Asia-Pacific region: a Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology Commission.

The Asian-Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) convened an international working party on the "APASL consensus statements and recommendation on management of hepatitis C" in March, 2015, in order to revise "APASL consensus statements and management algorithms for hepatitis C virus infection (Hepatol Int 6:409-435, 2012)". The working party consisted of expert hepatologists from the Asian-Pacific region gathered at Istanbul Congress Center, Istanbul, Turkey on 13 March 2015. New data were presented, discussed and debated to draft a revision. Participants of the consensus meeting assessed the quality of cited studies. Finalized recommendations on treatment of hepatitis C are presented in this review.

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APASL consensus statements and recommendation on treatment of hepatitis C

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E in humans, an emerging zoonosis mainly transmitted via food in developed countries and for which domestic pigs are recognised as the main reservoir. It therefore appears important to understand the features and drivers of HEV infection dynamics on pig farms in order to implement HEV surveillance programmes and to assess and manage public health risks. The authors have reviewed the international scientific literature on the epidemiological characteristics of HEV in swine populations. Although prevalence estimates differed greatly from one study to another, all consistently reported high variability between farms, suggesting the existence of multifactorial conditions related to infection and within-farm transmission of the virus. Longitudinal studies and experimental trials have provided estimates of epidemiological parameters governing the transmission process (e.g. age at infection, transmission parameters, shedding period duration or lag time before the onset of an immune response). Farming practices, passive immunity and co-infection with immunosuppressive agents were identified as the main factors influencing HEV infection dynamics, but further investigations are needed to clarify the different HEV infection patterns observed in pig herds as well as HEV transmission between farms. Relevant surveillance programmes and control measures from farm to fork also have to be fostered to reduce the prevalence of contaminated pork products entering the food chain.

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From the epidemiology of hepatitis E virus (HEV) within the swine reservoir to public health risk mitigation strategies: a comprehensive review

Hepatitis B virus subgenotyping: History, effects of recombination, misclassifications, and corrections

Universal childhood hepatitis B vaccination was introduced in Indonesia in 1997; by 2008, coverage was estimated to be 78% This study aimed to investigate the serologic status and virologic characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among the children in East Java A total of 229 healthy children born during 1994-1999 were enrolled in this study Overall, 31% were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 236% were positive for antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) HBV DNA was detected in 5 of 222 HBsAg-negative carriers, which were suggested to be cases of occult HBV infection A single amino substitution (T126I) in the S region was frequently found HBV infection remains endemic, and the prevalence of anti-HBs remains insufficient among children in East Java, Indonesia

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Serologic and molecular characteristics of hepatitis B virus among school children in East Java, Indonesia.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and subtypes have been identified worldwide. As HBV genotypes/subtypes, the HBV subgenotypes seem to be associated with their geographical distribution and ethnic origin. A previous study showed the novel HBV subgenotype C6 based on the complete genome sequences of isolates in Papua, Indonesia. In the present study, further characterization of HBV in Jayapura (capital of Papua Province), particularly from native people of Papua originating from the highland (highland Papuans) and those from the lowland (lowland Papuans) were examined. Of 32 HBV isolates from both highland and lowland Papuan blood donors with HBsAg positive, part of the S gene and the core gene sequences were analyzed. Analyses of some isolates from highland Papuans were confirmed by the complete genome sequences. Most HBV isolates were classified into genotype C (78.1%), followed by genotype B (18.8%), and genotype D (3.1%). The subtype adr was predominant (71.9%), followed by adw2 (25.1%), and ayw2 (3.1%). As with previous findings, phylogenetic analyses revealed that most HBV isolates from Papuans, C/adr, belonged to subgenotype C6. Interestingly, some C/adr isolates from highland Papuans formed a distinct cluster from all reported subgenotypes of HBV/C, and they differed from HBV/C1-C10 by 4.2-7.2% over the complete genome. SimPlot analysis showed no evidence of recombination with HBV/C1-C10. The isolated life and closed social systems of highland Papuans, even though some have been moving to Jayapura, likely contribute to the formation of this unique cluster of infection with a novel subgenotype of HBV, named C11.

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Another novel subgenotype of hepatitis B virus genotype C from papuans of Highland origin.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in swine and humans in different environments in Java and Bali, Indonesia. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in people over 20 years old living in communities in Bali was significantly higher than that in Java. While 68.8% and 90.0% of swine in Bali were anti-HEV positive at 1 and 2 months of age, respectively, swine in Java were at significantly lower risk of HEV infection by the age of 2 months. Our present data suggest that substantial differences in swine-breeding conditions and human living environments affect the rate of HEV infection in humans and swine.

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Prevalence of hepatitis E virus among swine and humans in two different ethnic communities in Indonesia

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has a significant rapid transmission is an international public health concern. Several dengue-endemic countries reported similar clinical and laboratory features between COVID-19 and dengue in the early incubation period, and thus discerning the infection is difficult. As a dengue-endemic country, Indonesia also poses the same challenge during the COVID-19 outbreak. This current study analyzed the IgG and IgM profiles from COVID-19 patients by using a serological SARS-CoV-2 and dengue rapid test. In addition, 38 sera from healthy individuals (pre-COVID-19 date) were analyzed using a dengue rapid test. Among 120 samples, 4 samples indicated dengue IgG positive. However, IgM, NS1, and RT-PCR analyses showed negative results. Interestingly, regarding seropositivity of NS1 and DENV IgG from healthy individuals (pre COVID-19 infection), two samples were positive DENV IgG, while one of them was positive NS1. This suggested that in the dengue-endemic area, many people have already experienced dengue and have immunity against dengue virus. There is also the possibility of antibody cross-reactivity between COVID-19 and dengue infection. This also emphasizes the high demand for a rapid method with high sensitivity and specificity that can distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 and dengue.

https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7449/13/2/50/pdf

Potential Misdiagnosis between COVID-19 and Dengue Infection Using Rapid Serological Test.

Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant global health problem. The two viruses are transmitted with high efficacy via blood-to-blood contact, mainly intravenous drug use (IVDU), whereas HCV is less easily transmitted sexually. Antibody testing is the main screening method for HCV infection, although it may not be the optimal option for HIV infection. The aim of this study was to investigate HCV infection in HIV-positive patients, with and without a detectable anti-HCV antibody response. A total of 187 plasma samples were obtained from HIV-positive patients in Surabaya, Indonesia and examined for anti-HCV [HCV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) 3.0], HCV genotype/subtype [reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers targeting a part of NS5B/5′UTR followed by sequencing] and HCV viral load (quantitative RT-PCR). A total of 119 patients (63.6%) were found to be anti-HCV-positive and, among these, HCV RNA was detected in 73 (61.3%), with HCV-1a as the predominant subtype (31.5%). Of the 68 anti-HCV-negative samples, HCV RNA was detected in 26/68 (38.2%) mostly as the HCV-3a subtype (50%). High HCV viral loads were more common among the HCV-seropositive patients. The HCV-seropositive samples with detected HCV RNA were mostly obtained from HIV-positive patients with parenteral transmission (IVDU) (76.7%); however, the HCV-seronegative samples with detected HCV RNA were mostly from patients who had acquired HCV through heterosexual transmission (61.5%). In conclusion, HIV-positive patients were at high risk of becoming co-infected with HCV and several remained HCV-seronegative. Furthermore, there may exist differences in HCV seropositivity and subtypes between HIV-positive patients who acquired HCV sexually and those who acquired HCV parenterally.

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Mochammad Amin

Papers

Serologic and molecular characteristics of hepatitis B virus among school children in East Java, Indonesia.

Another novel subgenotype of hepatitis B virus genotype C from papuans of Highland origin.

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus among swine and humans in two different ethnic communities in Indonesia

Potential Misdiagnosis between COVID-19 and Dengue Infection Using Rapid Serological Test.

High rate of seronegative HCV infection in HIV‑positive patients