ABSTRACT

       Background and Objective: Herpes simplex encephalitis is a life-threatening consequence of the central nervous system (CNS) infection with Herpes simplex virus (HSV). Although it is a rare disease, mortality rates reach 70% in the absence of therapy and only a minority of individuals can return to normal function. The aim of this study was to determine possible correlation between HSV infection and the incidence of encephalitis in patients with neurological signs.

        Methods: Overall, 152 CSF samples were tested from patients with neurological signs referred to Mahdieh Clinical Laboratory in Isfahan from 2010 to 2013. After cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection, DNA was extracted and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for HSV detection.

          Results: Of 152 patients tested, 50 were diagnosed with encephalitis. HSV DNA was present in the CSF of 13 patients with encephalitis. HSV was significantly higher (p< 0.05) in patients with encephalitis, which shows the significance of infection as an etiological factor of this disease. About 60% of the encephalitis cases were in age range of 1-24 months.

         Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, Cesarean section is recommended for HSV-positive mothers. A routine real-time PCR test is suggested for HSV detection in patients with encephalitis to avoid unnecessary antiviral treatments.

       

ABSTRACT
          Three major hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens include HBcAg, HBeAg and HBsAg. HBeAg is the extracellular form of HBcAg, and is seen almost exclusively in people who have circulating serum HBV DNA. Presence of HBsAg in serum indicates that the individual has contracted HBV infection. Chronic hepatitis HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe–positive is known as an important form of chronic hepatitis B in the Mediterranean region. In this report, we used Real-Time PCR and ELISA for detection of HBV and HBeAg/HbsAg, respectively. In our investigation on 4743 HBV cases referred to the Mahdieh Clinical Laboratory between 2008 and 2016, we found a 53-year-old man with clinical symptoms of hepatitis and abnormal molecular and serological features. Despite the presence of clinical symptoms and high viral load (128 × 10⁵ iu/ml), the patient was HBsAg-positive and HBeAg-negative. Identifying this type of HBV could indicate spread of this type of hepatitis in Isfahan, Iran.
           Keywords: Hepatitis B, HbsAg, HBeAg.