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V A Arankalle

Publications and source records attributed to V A Arankalle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Type-IV Indian swine HEV infects rhesus monkeys.

In contrast to countries reporting zoonotic spread of hepatitis E virus (HEV), distinct genotypes circulate in humans (genotype 1) and pigs (genotype 4) from India indicating rarity of such spread. Pigs were refractory to human HEV. As rhesus is an excellent animal model for human HEV, an attempt was made to infect rhesus monkeys with swine HEV. Experimental infection of both the rhesus monkeys with swine-HEV as evidenced by seroconversion to anti-HEV antibodies and presence of viraemia suggests possibility of human infections or differential susceptibility. Comparison of Open Reading Frame-2 and hypervariable regions of HEV genomes showed identity of swine and monkey-derived HEV.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2006

Molecular characterization of hepatitis A virus from a large outbreak from Kerala, India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis A is highly prevalent in India and mainly presents as a sporadic disease. This study investigated an outbreak of viral hepatitis at Medical College Hospital area, Kottayam, Kerala state, India during January 2005. METHODS: Blood (133), faecal (1), sewage (4), and water samples (13) were collected. Sera were tested for IgG- and IgM-anti-HAV and IgM antibodies against hepatitis E (IgM-anti-HEV). Sewage, faeces and water samples were tested for HAV RNA in nested RT-PCR and HAV RNA positive samples were further processed for RNA quantitation using Real Time PCR. RESULTS: Of the 1180 total cases, 540 were reported from Medical college area. Two deaths were reported among doctors. Patients from the community gave a previous history of visit to medical college hospital area. The sewage treatment plant at the campus was non-functional since 1990 and the untreated sewage was constantly overflowing and getting mixed with a canal. At the time of the study, all the water sources were superchlorinated. HAV RNA was present in the faeces of hepatitis A patient (1.36 x 10(7) copies/ml), sewage tank (2.57 x 10(3) copies/ml and the canal (<100 copies/ml). None of the 13 water samples concentrated 10,000-fold and the soil sample showed presence of HAV RNA. Phylogenetic analysis based on 5'-non-coding and P2 regions showed HAV-genotype IIIA in all samples. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The aetiological agent of the present outbreak was found to be HAV. Epidemic hepatitis A (genotype-IIIA) is emerging in Indian adults, emphasizing the need for definite policy for control.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed2006

Venereal transmission of Chandipura virus by Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli).

Experiments were conducted in the laboratory on Phlebotomus papatasi to determine the possible role of males in maintaining or sustaining the Chandipura virus (CHPV) activity in nature. This study indicated that infected males are capable of passing on the virus to female sand flies while mating. The infection rate was found to be 12.5% in uninfected females when mated with infected males. The occurrence of venereal transmission of this virus may have epidemiologic importance in the natural cycle of CHPV.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Hepatitis delta virus infection among the tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Hepatitis B virus infection is highly endemic among the tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. We screened 223 hepatitis B surface antigen-positive members of these tribes for hepatitis delta virus infection (HDV). The infection was observed only among the Nicobarese. Considering the serious consequences of HDV infection, we suggest that the tribes of these islands should be monitored for HDV infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Detection of chandipura virus from sand flies in the genus Sergentomyia (Diptera: Phlebotomidae) at Karimnagar District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

A total of 191 adult sand flies belonging to the genus Sergentomyia were collected from seven villages in Karimnagar and Warangal districts of Andhra Pradesh State, India, after an outbreak of encephalitis due to Chandipura virus (CHPV). Fifteen pools, each containing two specimens, were tested by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. One pool of Sergentomyia from Kolanur village in Karimnagar District was positive for CHPV.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Swine HEV infection in south India and phylogenetic analysis (1985-1999).

Hepatitis E is endemic in India. It was recently noted that although all the Indian human hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolates (1976-2001) were placed in genotype I, the swine HEV recovered from western India (2000) belonged to genotype IV. This was in contrast to reports from the United States and Taiwan wherein both human and swine HEV belonged to the same genotype, i.e., genotypes III and IV, respectively. In order to validate these findings further, we retrospectively examined serum samples collected from pigs from southern India. Sequential serum samples from 45 (1985-1987) and 12 (1999) pigs from Karnataka state, south India, were screened for the presence of HEV RNA (nested PCR) and IgG-anti-HEV (ELISA). PCR products (Open Reading Frame-2 region) were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. In this study, 42/45 (1985-1987) and 12/12 (1999) pigs showed seroconversion to IgG anti-HEV antibodies, with a mean age at seroconversion of 4.8 +/- 1.6 months. Four samples collected in 1999 and two samples collected during 1985 were HEV RNA positive. All swine HEV sequences clustered with genotype IV, demonstrating that swine HEV was prevalent among south Indian pigs for at least for 16 years and, similar to western India, belonged to genotype IV. Thus, genotype I and IV HEV continue to circulate in humans and pigs, respectively, from India. Whether swine HEV infects humans remains to be determined.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Who should receive hepatitis A vaccine?

Though a potent vaccine represents a powerful preventive tool, the policy of its use is governed by epidemiological and economical factors. Hepatitis A, an enterically transmitted disease shows distinct association with socio-economic status, populations with improvement experiencing lower exposure to the virus. With the availability of vaccine, it is pertinent to consider its use in the effective control of the disease. However, with the varied epidemiological patterns and economical constraints in different countries it does not seem to be possible to evolve universal policy for immunization. Though, universal immunization may be the most effective way of control, the same is not practical for many countries. It is proposed that irrespective of endemicity of hepatitis A, high-risk groups such as travelers to endemic areas, patients suffering from chronic liver diseases, HBV and HCV carriers, tribal communities with high HBV carrier rates, food handlers, sewage workers, recipients of blood products, troops, and children from day-care centers should be immunized with hepatitis A vaccine. In addition, for populations with intermediate prevalence, infants, children from affordable families may be immunized. As coupling the vaccine with EPI schedule would be beneficial, use of combined A & B or A, B & E vaccine may be an attractive alternative.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Hepatitis B virus: prevalence of precore/core promoter mutants in different clinical categories of Indian patients.

To determine the association of precore (Pre-C)/basal core promoter (BCP) mutants with clinical outcome of hepatitis B in Western India, 192 hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected individuals were investigated. HBV-DNA PCR positivity among asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive carriers (61/100) was lower (P < 0.0001) than chronic hepatitis B (CHB), acute (P = 0.0001), and fulminant hepatitis B patients (P = 0.047). Pre-C status was based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP, n = 153) and sequencing (n = 118). Prevalence of Pre-C mutants was higher among carriers (23/61) than CHB (10/62, P = 0.0071) or acute (3/22; P = 0.037) patients. Children from carrier and CHB categories showed significantly higher circulation of Pre-C-wild than mutant HBV. Clinical manifestations were independent of BCP mutations (1762/64-T/A). Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative CHB patients [62.5% (15/24)] were circulating wild HBV. Higher HBV-DNA levels were associated with chronic hepatitis and HBeAg positivity, whilst Pre-C mutant positives had lower levels. BCP mutations did not affect HBV-DNA levels. Multivariate regression analysis identified HBeAg (OR = 4.3) and Pre-C mutants (OR = 3.1) to be associated with chronic hepatitis and carriers respectively. In a separate sub-set analysis (n = 59), HBV-DNA level was identified as the only variable. In conclusion, chronic or fulminant hepatitis B was not associated with Pre-C or BCP mutants and switching over to Pre-C mutant was beneficial for the infected individual in maintaining disease free status for extended periods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Hepatitis B virus: predominance of genotype D in primitive tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, India (1989-1999).

To understand the possible origin of hepatitis B virus (HBV), three of the four hyperendemic, primitive accessible tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, India, were investigated. The Nicobarese tribe was investigated in 1989 and 1999. The S gene from 65 HBV isolates was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Genotyping and serotyping were carried out on the basis of phylogenetic and amino acid analyses of S gene. All 20 Nicobarese-89 isolates, nine Onges-99 isolates and the single Andamanese-99 HBV isolate were classified as genotype D. Of the Nicobarese-99 isolates, 32 (91.4 %) and three (8.6 %) were genotypes D and A, respectively. Per cent nucleotide identity between the S sequences representing different tribes varied from 98.06 to 98.59 % and varied from mainland isolates by 1.6-2.0 %. Although southeast Asian origin is postulated for the Nicobarese tribe, the presence of different genotypes suggests introduction of HBV after migration to these islands, probably from mainland India, 200 years back, when these islands became inhabited as a part of penal settlement during the British regimen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Immune response to an indigenously developed hepatitis-B (Shanvac-B) vaccine in a tribal community of India.

Hepatitis-B infection is highly endemic among the primitive tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. A pilot project of hepatitis-B vaccination using indigenously developed (Shanvac-B) was initiated among the Nicobarese tribe in Car Nicobar Island. The 936 individuals negative for HBsAg and anti-HBs were administered three doses of the vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months. The vaccine was found to be safe and efficacious with sero-protection rates of 49.1, 86.9 and 96.7% after first, second and third dose. Considering the high endemicity of the infection and small number of the tribal population, it is necessary to initiate hepatitis-B vaccination programme for this community. Since the vaccine was found to be cost-effective, it could be adopted for hepatitis-B vaccination in this community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Hepatitis E antibody profiles in serum and urine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-HEV antibody profiles in urine specimens in comparison to corresponding serum samples to assess the utility of urine as a clinical specimen. Paired serum and urine specimens from 71 hepatitis E patients, 33 non-E hepatitis patients, 63 patients with nonhepatic diseases, and 26 healthy individuals were tested by recombinant HEV protein (55 kD)-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Uronegativity for anti-HEV IgM was noted in 71 (100%) serologically confirmed patients with hepatitis E. Hepatitis E patients (10/10) showed urinary absence or very low levels of total IgM by capture ELISA, suggesting absence or low levels of filtration, and/or local synthesis, and/or transudation of IgM in urine during infection. When these patients were tested for total IgG and IgA, microquantities of immunoglobulins were noted in all urine samples (10/10 for each). However, the proportions of uropositivity for anti-HEV IgG and IgA in hepatitis E patients were low and indicated only 21.42% and 49.33% concordance with seropositivity, respectively. Control groups also showed low and variable uropositivity for anti-HEV IgG and IgA. Overall, HEV-specific antibodies exhibited by serum in recent and past infections were not found in urine. The study demonstrated the inadequacy of urine specimens for detection of hepatitis E antibodies.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Vertical transmission of hepatitis A.

Two hospital delivered full term newborn babies were detected to have cholestatic jaundice in the first week of life. They had raised liver enzyme levels, which gradually declined over a period of one month. Both babies were anti HAV IgM positive on 6th day of life in Case 1 and on 7th day of life in Case 2 respectively. Both the mothers had jaundice 20 and 26 days before delivery and had anti HAV IgM positivity two and three weeks prior to delivery in Case 1 and 2 respectively. Hepatitis A virus is not transmitted vertically from mother to baby. However, there are 3 such case reports in literature stating vertical transmission of HAV infection. We are reporting it in two neonates for the first time in India.

Female↗
PubMed2002

Epidemiology of hepatitis B infection among the Nicobarese--a mongoloid tribe of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Union Territory of India, is home to six primitive tribes. Preliminary serological studies carried out earlier among the four accessible tribes revealed that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is hyper-endemic among them. The present study was carried out to understand important modes of transmission and to identify possible risk factors associated with HBV infection among the Nicobarese tribe. The epidemiology of HBV infection in these islands appears to be distinct with a high prevalence of the chronic carrier state (22.2%) associated with a comparable proportion of the population being anti-HBs positive (26.3%). More than half of the HBsAg and anti-HBs negative individuals have anti-HBc antibodies. Age, past history of hospital admission, intramuscular injections and number of carriers in the tuhet were found to be significantly associated with exposure to hepatitis B virus. Horizontal transmission through close contact with carriers and perinatal route appears to be an important mode of transmission of HBV in this community. Besides this, use of unsafe injections represents an independent risk factor for acquiring HBV infection in this population. Introducing HBV vaccine in the infant immunization programme and improving injection safety would help to control the infection in the tribal community of these islands.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Changing scenario of hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus exposure among the primitive tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India over the 10-year period 1989-99.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Union Territory of India, are home to six primitive tribes. Studies carried out earlier among these tribes revealed very high rates of hepatitis B infection. We have now studied hepatitis A and E infection among them. A total of 951 serum samples were collected from four accessible tribes (Nicobarese, Shompens, Onges and Great Andamanese) and tested for antibodies against hepatitis A and E viruses. In addition, 240 serum samples collected a decade earlier from age-stratified Nicobarese were also screened. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection was found to be highly endemic among all the tribes, whereas hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection was common among the Nicobarese and Shompens. The age group-wise prevalence of these infections among the Nicobarese showed different patterns, HAV prevalence rising significantly from those aged 10 years and thereafter reaching a plateau, whereas HEV prevalence was found to be more evenly distributed over all age groups, but rising somewhat after 30 years of age. Over the last decade, the prevalence of HAV among the Nicobarese has declined slightly, particularly in those aged 10 years or less whereas HEV infection has more than doubled over all age ranges. Different HEV prevalence observed among the tribes could not be attributed to differences in sanitation or water supply. This fact and the different age-wise patterns of HAV and HEV prevalences is suggestive of different modes of transmission of HEV that are not shared. The highest rates for HEV were among those tribes which reared pigs suggesting that pigs might serve as reservoir of HEV. Further studies are needed, however, to validate these findings.

Adolescent↗