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Rationale. Hepatitis E (HE) is a zooanthroponosis. Domestic pigs are the main reservoir for hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the Republic of Belarus (RB). Considering the well-developed pig farming, there is a high risk of infection spread among the population; however, the scale of virus circulation and patterns of HE epidemiology in the above region are still insufficiently explored.The aim of the study is to assess HEV seroprevalence specific for the HE epidemic process in RB.Materials and methods. Serum samples (n = 2,784) collected from patients of infectious disease departments at hospitals (n = 1,669) and relatively healthy people (n = 1,114) from different RB regions were used to measure the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by a kinetic rate method as well as IgG antibodies to HEV by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results. In the group of healthy people, anti-HEV IgG were detected in 7.3% (95% CI, 5.8–9.0). In the group of patients with liver disorders, the detection frequency was significantly higher, reaching 11.2% (95% CI, 9.6–12.9). In the groups of healthy people and patients with elevated ALT levels, the HEV seroprevalence did not depend on their gender or the region of residence. The anti-HEV IgG detection frequency gradually increased among olderage patients and reached the peak levels (15.9% on average) in the over-64 age group.Conclusions. RB is characterized by intensive HEV circulation, while the HE epidemic process is characterized by a latent nature. The actual prevalence of HЕ seromarkers among the RB population exceeds the frequency of diagnosed cases, suggesting insufficient vigilance of healthcare workers towards HE and subclinical forms of infection in most of the patients.

Introduction. Hepatitis E (HE) is an important public health problem worldwide and is especially significant for pregnant women, among whom the associated mortality rate reaches 25%. The distribution of HE serological markers in this cohort in the endemic regions of Central Asia is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of HEV among pregnant women in the region of Kyrgyzstan where an increased incidence of HE is reported. Material and methods. Blood serum of pregnant women, obtained from medical institutions in Bishkek, city of Osh and Osh region in the period from September 2016 to October 2019, and the control group of clinically healthy women were tested using the test systems “DS-IFA-ANTI-HEV-G” and “DS-IFA-ANTI-HEV-M” (NPO “Diagnostic Systems”, Russia). Results. IgG antibodies to HEV were detected in 87 (5.9%) of 1472 examined pregnant women, IgM antibodies -in 64 (4.8%) of 1378, while 5 (0.34%) samples were simultaneously positive for IgG and IgM antibodies. The rates of detection of antibodies to HEV in women of three age categories from 17 to 36 years old in the studied and control groups were similar. The analysis of the seasonal dynamics of HEV seroprevalence in pregnant women in the period from February to September 2019 showed a tendency towards an increase in the values of the positivity coefficient of specific IgM antibodies by the beginning of the autumn. Antibodies to HEV were detected with highest frequency in women from Osh region. Conclusions. A high risk of HEV infection for pregnant women in the surveyed region had been shown.

Aim. To estimate the antibodies (Ab) level to HIV-1 antigens in persons infected with virus various subtypes, which received and didn’t receive antiretroviral therapy (ART).Materials and methods. Blood serum samples of HIV-1-infected with subtypes A1, B and C (ART+) — 40 persons, (ART-) — 29 persons. Ab were determined by modified linear immunoassay. Positivity indices for each antigen were calculated for each sample.Results. Multidirectional changes in the Ab level to HIV-1 antigens were revealed in persons infected with virus various subtypes at the ART background and without it.Conclusion. The study of Ab spectrum changes in persons infected with virus various subtypes at the ART background is promising for the additional dynamic criteria development for HIV infection progress estimation.

Hepatitis E is an acute viral infectious disease transmitted by fecal-oral route mainly through fecally contaminated drinking water, with cyclic outbreaks and frequent development of acute hepatic encephalopathy in pregnant women. Hepatitis E epidemic outbreaks occur in Central Asia, Africa and Latin America, whereasChina,India,Turkmenistan,Kazakhstan,Tajikistan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,Bolivia,Mexico, andTaiwanrepresent endemic geographic regions. Hepatitis E in the structure of acute viral hepatitis morbidity during outbreaks ranges from 64.7% to 80%, whereas sporadic morbidity may be up to 10 to 18.8%. In contrast, percentage of hepatitis E in acute viral hepatitis varies from 0.5% to 12.6% in European countries and some territories of theRussian Federation. The latent active virus circulation was confirmed in various regions of theRussian Federation. All introduced cases were related to recent traveling to the regions with high incidence of hepatitis E, which course clinically did not differ from standard hepatitis E infection, but no cases of infection were recorded after exposure. Lack of contact transmission in this case was associated with low virus survival in environment. Patients with any clinical form including anicteric serve as a source of infection. An increased risk of hepatitis E infection is typical for livestock workers dealing with pigs, employe es of meat processing plants engaged in primary meat carcass processing and working at slaughterhouse. According to the World Health Organization, 20 million cases of hepatitis E virus infection are recorded annually, among which 3 million cases account for acute hepatitis E and related 70 000 lethal outcomes. Chronic liver disorders comprising up to 70% followed by death of pregnant women (40%) as well as acute liver and kidney failure reaching as low as 4% result in lethal outcome in hepatitis E patients. Creating a mathematical model for development of hepatitis E infection could allow to predict changes in its morbidity rate at controlled area. Here, for the first time we propose a mathematical model for developing hepatitis E in human population based on disease course, which may potentially predict an incidence rate for the most dangerous icteric hepatitis E as well as assess amount of individuals susceptible to it at morbidity rise in the geographic region.