Virology (non-HIV/non-hepatitis) of patients. Jaundice was not present in 6 cases (5%). Mean serum bilirubin level was 6 mg/dl, ranging from 0.3 to 19 mg/dl. Peak AST and ALT levels were 2500 and 3500 UI respectively. No fulminant form of acute hepatitis was observed. The serological diagnosis was based on the detection of IgM anti HAV in 49 cases (39%). Conclusion: The pattern of this common-source water-associated outbreak indicates that Albania is still considered a country of moderate/intermediate endemicity of HAV infection. R2307 Significant reduce in hepatitis B prevalence among blood donors admitted to an Ahwaz blood transfusion service due to educational and vaccination programmes M. Jalali Far, J. Torabi Zadeh Maatoghi, S.M. Sajadi, M. Paridar, A. Ghasem Zadeh, A. Nasimian (Ahwaz, Tehran, IR) Although blood transfusions save the life of many patients, they carry a risk of blood-borne diseases such as viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B is one of the major diseases of mankind and is a serious global public health problem. Of the 2 billion people who have been infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), more than 350 million have chronic (lifelong) infections. These chronically infected persons are at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, diseases that kill about one million persons each year. Because of the great number of blood dependent patients such as thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies patients, determination of HBV prevalence helps us to recognize the risk factors and increase the blood safety. In this cross-sectional descriptive survey, we studied 39,032 blood donors admitted to Ahwaz blood transfusion service and related blood centre between 17 Apr 2005 and 19 Feb 2006 by using non-random simple sampling. 36,252 (92.9%) male and 2,780 (7.1%) female; 8,817 (22.6%) single and 30,215 (77.4%) married; 2,351 (6%) was illiterate and has the lowest rate and blood donors with diploma and below the diploma consisted the majority of blood donors: 28,948 (74.2%). Age was 17−65 years, mean: 33.03, the largest age group was 15,792 (40.5%) donors under 29 years old and the smallest age group was donors over 49 years with 4.9%]. For all of them we did HBs-Ag based on Enzyme immuno assay (Dade Behring kit). We found 0.8% (324/39,022) of blood donors were HBs-Ag reactive. We found significant difference between HBV infection and job, marital status, age group, educational level and blood group, but gender was not significant. The HBV prevalence was higher in blood donors who were over 49 years groups, farmer, illiterate and married. Our study showed a significant reduction in hepatitis B infection among blood donors in comparison with previous studies in this region and other regions in Iran. This is because of the wide spreading educational and vaccination programmes and the rigid rules in donor selection in Ahwaz. Further educational programmes should focus especially on married and illiterate blood donors. HBc-Ab screening for detection all previous and window period infection are recommended. R2308 Prevalence of hepatitis C virus genotypes in chronic infected patients of haemodialysis department M. Kozachenko, A. Kachanka, B. Samoliuk, I. Karpov (Minsk, BY) Objectives: At hemodialysis centres patients are well known to be infected with virus hepatitis not only because of haemotransfusion but also because of asepsis rules violation while haemodialysis. This category of patients faces a greater risk of being infected with years. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes have been associated with different treatment response. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes, serum HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA levels and severity of liver disease in chronic infected patients. Methods: 126 patients, who were diagnosed with chronic kidney deficiency and assigned to programmed haemodialysis, were examined with the help of ELISA-method. If parenteral hepatitis markers were defined, molecular-biological methods were employed in order to
S669 continue the examination of the patients, in particular a real time mode PCR method was adhered to. Results: 89 patients (70.6%) got positive results for HBV- and HCVinfection. On grouping aetiologic indicators we registered the following: HBV-infection – 42 patients (47.2%), HCV-infection – 27 patients (30.3%), mixed infection HBV+HCV – 20 patients (22.5%). PCR DNA was positive in 47 cases, PCR RNA was positive in 33 cases. After the classification of genes of the patients infected with HCV-infection 13 patients were registered to have 1b genotype, 6 patients 3a, 4 patients 2a, 1 patient 1a, and 1 patient 1b/3a. Conclusion: Thus, hemodialysis department patients take a high risk of being infected with various kinds of parenteral virus hepatitis. In order to prevent the infection it is necessary not only to observe the rules of aseptic procedures and hemodialysis very carefully but also to conduct a preliminary vaccination of the patients who need a programmed hemodialysis against hepatitis B. Further working out and development of monitoring and specific treatment protocol seems to be very promising.
Virology (non-HIV/non-hepatitis) R2309 Bladder carcinogenesis via viral infection H. Badawi, H. Ahmed, A. Ismail, N. El-Khafif, A. Helmy, A. Badawy, S. Mansy, M. Saber (Imbaba, EG) Objectives: To investigate the role of human papillomaviruses (HPV16, 18), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) in the etiopathogenesis of cancer bladder, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Electron Microscopic Studies (EMS). It is also a trial to highlight the possible correlation of such infections with the apoptosis of buffy coat cells and serologic responses using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Methods: This study was conducted on 80 patients, Urosurgery Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI), who were identified as three groups, cancer bladder (group I, 20), cystitis (group II, 20), cancer bladder with cystitis (group III, 20), and a fourth group of 20 normal healthy subjects as controls. They were all subjected to the following: Detection of viral genomic sequences by PCR and EMS on bladder tissue biopsies, buffy coat cells, serum and urine samples, serological detection by ELISA of HPV IgG using Baculovirus recombinant HPV virus-like particles and IgG & IgM of EBV, HSV-2 and CMV and detection of CMV antigen (pp65) in PMNL by monoclonal antibody. Results: Among all Patients 56.6% were virally infected with different viruses under the study. HPV16 was detected in 53% cases, HPV18 in 24%, CMV in 48%, EBV in 41% and HSV-2 in 48%. Infection with multiple viruses (74%) was significantly associated with either cancer or cystitis than single infection (26%) (P < 0.01). EMS of the examined cases showed remarkable apoptotic changes in lymphocytes and neutrophils of 75% of either cystitis or cancer cases and were absolutely associated with virally infected cases. IgG antibodies to HPV16 VLPs were detected in 66.7% and 11.4% of HPV16 DNA positive and negative patients respectively and in none of healthy controls. Conclusion: Our study confirms significant association of mixed viral infection with bladder cancer in Egyptian patients which suggests the interesting hypothesis of a viral synergistic action in bladder carcinogenesis. The sensitivity and accuracy of PCR could be increased by adding EMS. PCR on serum or urine samples proved to be nonsensitive. ELISA for detection of anti-HPV16 VLPs could be used in conjunction with HPV DNA detection techniques for accurate clinical diagnosis and epidemiological studies. Detailed investigations on the different apoptotic pathways in general and on the viral manipulations of these pathways are necessary so as to open up new strategies for therapy.