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Background and Objectives: Human parechoviruses (HPeV) and Human enteroviruses (EV) frequently cause a sepsis-like illness in young infants (younger than three months). Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the frequency of HPeV and EV among the young infants with clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis in Ahvaz city, Iran. Materials and Methods: The blood specimens were collected from 100 (younger than 90 days hospitalized infants) including 54 (56.25%) males and 46 (43.75%) females with clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis-like disease. The RNA was extracted and tested for detection of VP1 region of HPeV and 5 UTR (Untranslated Region) of EV by RT-PCR. The sequences of positive of HPeV were further analyzed to determine HPeV genotyping. Results: 5/100 (5%) of patients including 2/46 (2%) females and 3/54 (3%) males tested positive for HPeV (P=0.85). The analysis of 5 positive VP1 region of HPeV revealed the genotype 1. The analysis of sequencing and phylogenetic tree revealed that the isolated HPeVs were genotype 1. While 38/100 (38%) specimens including 16 (16%) females and 22 (22%) males were tested positive for EV (P=0.68). Conclusion: The frequency of HPeV genotype 1 was 5% among the young infants with sepsis. While frequency of EV was 38% among the young infants with sepsis. This study showed HPeV genotype 1 and EV are dominant in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Hepatitis C virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) share the same rate of transmission. HIV/HCV co-infected individuals may result in faster progression of liver fibrosis and highly increase the risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma development. Thus this study was conducted to determine co-infection of HCV genotypes in positive HIV patients in Ahvaz city, Iran. Materials and Methods: The sera samples were collected from confirmed 78 infected HIV, 67 (85.89%) males and 11 (14.1%) females. All sera samples were tested for HCV Ab using ELISA test. The HCV Ab positive samples were tested for detection of 5' untranslated (UTR) and core regions of HCV genome using nested RT-PCR. The PCR products of 5UTR and core regions were sequenced to determine HCV genotypes. Results: Among the 78 infected HIV, 25 (32.05%) cases including 20 (25.64%) males and 5 (6.41%) females were positive for HCV Ab (p=0.316). 53 (67.94%) of HIV patients were negative for HCV Ab. Among 25 positive HCV Ab, 19 (24.35%) cases including 15 (19.23%) males and 4 (5.12%) females were positive for HCV RNA (p=0.447). The PCR products of 5 positive samples were randomly sequenced. The results of sequences and alignments showed that the detected HCV genotypes were three 3a and two 1a. The occurrence of genotype HCV 1a was found in one male injecting drug user Injecting Drug User (IDU) and one female. The HCV 3a genotype was detected in the three males IDU. Conclusion: The results of this survey indicated that 32.05% of HIV patients were positive for HCV Ab, among them 24.35% were positive HCV RNA. HCV genotype 3a was dominant and detected in the three males IDU. Regarding the consequences of HIV/HCV co-infection, it is suggested that HCV RNA detection should be regularly checked in individuals infected with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: BK polyomavirus is a member of the Polyomaviridae. This virus has spread worldwide and up to 82% of the world populations are serologically positive. BK polyomavirus usually transmits through inhalation or fecal-oral way in childhood, as well as is likely to cause an asymptomatic disease. The virus can be reactivated in people who are immunocompromised. Objectives: In this study we aimed to determine the complete genome sequence of BK polyomavirus in 5 patients receiving kidney transplantation in Golestan hospital, Ahvaz, south west of Iran. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on urine and blood samples from kidney transplant ward, Golestan hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. To amplify the whole genome of BK polyomavirus AccuPower ProFi Taq PCR PreMix kit (Bioneer, South Korea) was used. Then, purified fragments were cloned into the vector. Sequences derived from the sequencing process were assembled by MEGA7 software. Data were analyzed using MEGA7 software and a phylogenetic tree was built based on the maximum likelihood ratio method. Results: Overall, 40 urine samples (40%) and two plasma samples (12%) were positive for BK virus DNA. For the selected samples, W.G. Long PCR was performed and 5.1 kbp fragment was observed in all five samples. These fragments were cloned and sequenced. Genomic sequence analysis of the 5 strains studied showed 97.6% homology and all our study samples were of the same clade, which could be a reason for our patients to be infected with the same strain. Comparing the 5 isolates in our study with reference strains, showed more than 98% of homology, and variation was observed in less than 2% of nucleotides. Conclusion: These five isolates showed more than 98% homology compared to the reference sequences, which can be attributed to the fact that these patients are infected with a common strain or that the genomic stability in the strain exists in our geographic area. We can conclude that in our geographic region there is a genomic stability and this strain can also be used as a positive control sample in other parts of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis is an extremely frequent ophthalmological disease caused by various serological subtypes of human adenovirus (HAdV) worldwide. Adenoviruses serotypes 8, 11, 19, 37 frequently cause epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of adenovirus serotypes in patients with EKC in Ahvaz, Iran. Materials and Methods: Eighty-eight ocular swabs were collected from patients with EKC. The specimens were analyzed for detection of adenovirus by standard PCR. The PCR products were further sequenced and analyzed to determine the serotypes. Results: The study population consisted of 49/88 (55.7%) males and 39/88 (44.3%) females. Among them 25 (51.02%) males and 22 (56.41%) females were positive for HAdV serotype 8 (p= 0.488). Overall forty-seven (53.4%) samples were positive for AdV serotype 8 while forty-one patients (46.59%) were negative for the adenovirus serotypes. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed predominanance of HAdV 8 with high prevalence of 53.4% among patients with Keratoconjunctivitis. Forty-one patients (46.59%) were negative for adenovirus. Still, the role for other related viruses such as enteroviruses need to be investigated in patients with EKC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the prevalence, transmission routes and genotypes distribution of HCV in HIV-1/HCV co-infected individuals in Ahvaz, Iran.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV adult voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clients, from September to November 2016. Reverse transcription (RT) nested PCR was performed to amplify the HCV core and 5'UTR regions from 90 HIV/HCV co-infected individuals. The PCR products were then sequenced for HCV subtyping. Genetic analysis was done by MEGA6 software.Results: The prevalence of HCV in HIV-1-infected individuals was 58.7%. Injection drug use (IDU) was the most common route (99.1%) of transmission, and most of the patients (97.8%) had a history of imprisonment. The HCV subtypes were identified as 1a (55.2%), 3a (35.8%), 3 h (4.5%), 1b (3%) and 4a (1.5%) respectively, HCV 1a and 3a subtypes were predominant.Conclusions: The diversity of HCV subtypes in HIV-1/HCV co-infected individuals in Ahvaz city was high, although two subtypes (1a and 3a) are predominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]