Sahar Mortezagholi; Davood Rostamzadeh; Maedeh Alinejad; Vahid Younesi; Payam Tabarsi; Mahdi Shabani
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly transmits in general population, mainly between health-care workers (HCWs) who are in close contact with patients. Objective: To study the seropositivity of HCWs as a high-risk group compared to general population. Methods: ...
Read More
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly transmits in general population, mainly between health-care workers (HCWs) who are in close contact with patients. Objective: To study the seropositivity of HCWs as a high-risk group compared to general population. Methods: 72 samples were obtained from HCWs working in Masih Daneshvari hospital as one of the main COVID-19 admission centers in Tehran, during April 4 to 6, 2020. Also we collected 2021 blood samples from general population. The SARS-CoV-2 specific IgM, and IgG antibodies in the collected serum specimens were measured by commercial ELISA kits. Results: Based on the clinical manifestations, 25.0%, 47.2%, and 27.8% of HCWs were categorized as symptomatic with typical symptoms, symptomatic with atypical symptoms, and asymptomatic, respectively. Symptomatic individuals with typical and atypical symptoms were 63.2% and 36.8% positive in RT-PCR test, respectively. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 15.3% and 27.8% of HCWs samples, respectively. Antibody testing in the general population indicated that SARS-CoV-2 specific IgM and IgG were found in (162/2021) 8%, and (290/2021) 14.4%, respectively. The frequency of positive cases of IgM and IgG were significantly increased in HCWs compared to general population (p= 0.028 for IgM and p= 0.002 for IgG). Conclusion: The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in HCWs was higher than general population indicating a higher viral transmission via close exposure with COVID-19 patients.
Mohammad Motamedifar; Farhad Handijani; Nahal Hadi; Mohammad Kazem Shahkarami; Davoud Mehrabani
Volume 3, Issue 1 , March 2006, , Pages 43-46
Abstract
Background: Varicella–zoster virus (VZV) causes herpes zoster and varicella (Chicken-pox), usually a mild disease which is diagnosed clinically with few complications. However, in neonates and healthy adults it can have a severe presentation. Herpes zoster results from VZV reactivation later in ...
Read More
Background: Varicella–zoster virus (VZV) causes herpes zoster and varicella (Chicken-pox), usually a mild disease which is diagnosed clinically with few complications. However, in neonates and healthy adults it can have a severe presentation. Herpes zoster results from VZV reactivation later in life. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of VZV in elementary school children aged 6-10 years in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted on 270 healthy subjects. All serum samples were investigated for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody against VZV using a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Among the studied population, 175 (64.8%) had no detectable antibody levels. The overall seroprevalence rate was 35.2%. A breakdown of seropositivity to VZV according to age was as follows; 10 years old, 50%, 9 years old, 48.2%, 8 years old, 27.3%, 7 years old, 32.1%, and 6 years old, 13.2%. Conclusion: As VZV susceptibility in the studied age groups was higher than the expected rate, therefore childhood VZV vaccination is recommended in our region.
Maryam Kasraeian; Marjan Movaseghii; Alireza Fotouhi Ghiam
Volume 1, Issue 3 , December 2004, , Pages 189-193
Abstract
Background: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 2 is a widespread human infectious agent responsible for persistent and latent infections. Objectives: To estimate the regional seroprevalence of anti HSV-2 antibody in Shiraz, Iran and to investigate the possible correlation of seropositivity with malignant ...
Read More
Background: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 2 is a widespread human infectious agent responsible for persistent and latent infections. Objectives: To estimate the regional seroprevalence of anti HSV-2 antibody in Shiraz, Iran and to investigate the possible correlation of seropositivity with malignant changes in subjects’ Papanicolaou (Pap) tests. Methods: Data were collected in a cross-sectional study. A randomly selected population of 915 women, from nine primary health care centers according to regional population size, was recruited in this study. HSV type specific serum IgG was determined by an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay. Results: The overall seroprevalence of HSV-2 antibody was 258/915 (28.19%). Most of the seropositive cases (87.6%) were categorized in the group of less educated women. None of the individuals with positive serum antibody had malignant change in the uterine cells obtained with the help of Pap smear. Conclusion: HSV-2 infection is relatively common and largely unrecognized among our study participants. The HSV-2 antibody was more prevalent in the studied population in comparison with European and American women, and less prevalent than African women. Although HSV-2 is reported to be in correlation with cervical cancer, none of our studied subjects had any malignant change in cervical cells.