Blood samples were collected from 7572 healthy volunteer blood donors from 21 of the 27 Indonesian provinces, and tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) using the new second-generation enzyme immunosorbent assay, and also tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We detected anti-HCV in 2.1% of the blood donors. No statistically significant difference was found between males and females or between locations, but there was a statistically significant increasing likelihood of anti-HCV prevalence with increasing age. HBsAg was found in 8.8% of the 3839 tested donors. There was no statistically significant difference between sexes or age groups, but there was a statistically significant higher prevalence in the islands of Sulawesi and eastern Indonesia. Only 7 individuals, from 5 locations, were both anti-HCV and HBsAg positive. Based on responses to a questionnaire, a history of surgery, blood transfusion, intravenous medication, and acupuncture were identified as risk factors for the presence of anti-HCV. No such risk factor was identified for HBsAg prevalence. The combined data suggest separate modes of transmission for the 2 viruses, and indicate the need for continued surveillance for these agents in Indonesian blood banks.

Evidence for the presence of simian T-lymphotropic viruses (STLV-I) was identified in live-caught pig-tailed macaques from two locations in southern Sumatra, Indonesia. Of 60 animals tested, 13.3% of the animals showed seroreactivity to HTLV-I/II enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antigens. Of these, 75% showed indeterminate reactivity and 25% showed positive reactivity to HTLV-I/II Western blot antigens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of 6 of 8 seroreactive monkeys' peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) DNA showed production of proper size molecular weight product that hybridized specifically to an STLV-I tax gene-specific probe. Phylogenic analyses of tax gene fragment sequences from the PCR products of two samples, 930287 and 930306, indicated that these animals were infected with retroviruses related to those of the Asian STLV-I clade.

Abstract. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence among high-risk pediatric and adult patients was evaluated. The study included 269 adults and 150 children in a case-control research design. Risk factors of HCV exposure in Indonesia were assessed among adult renal dialysis patients and pediatric patients who received multiple blood transfusions. A high prevalence of anti-HCV was found among the adult renal dialysis patients, measured by second-generation electroimmunoassay tests. Family members of dialysis patients, who served as a comparison group for dialysis patients, were found to have a 9.0% seroprevalence. The prevalence of anti-HCV among pediatric patients with hematological disorders was found to be 39.0%. The comparison group seroprevalence (pediatric patients and family members) was 4.3% among sera available for confirmatory testing. Patients with history of hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] ‫ס‬ 7.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.06-15.51, P ‫ס‬ 0.0001), blood transfusion (OR ‫ס‬ 6.85, 95% CI: 3.95-11.88, P ‫ס‬ 0.0001), circumcision (OR ‫ס‬ 2.39, 95% CI: 1.43-3.99, P ‫ס‬ 0.0001), or marital partner/family member history of jaundice (OR ‫ס‬ 3.62, 95% CI: 1.97-6.62, P ‫ס‬ 0.0001) were found to have an increased odds of HCV exposure compared with individuals without similar histories.

No abstract

Starting from September 1987, a one year prospective study on lgM and lgG in dengue hemorrhagic fever, was carried out at the Department of Pediatrics, Sumber War as Hospital West Jakarta. This report describes the preliminary finding of the study from September 1987 through June 1988. Virus isolation and serologic analysis (HI, lgG and lgM capture ELISA) for DHF were done by NAMRU 2 in Jakarta. The subjects were 151 virologically confirmed DHF patients consisting of 82 boys and 69 girls of 6 months - 15 years old. Serum samples were collected: (I) on the day of admission; (II) on the day of discharge and (Ill) 2 weeks after the first samples. Serum samples I, II, and Ill were collected from respectively 151, 131 and 64 subjects on respectively 3.5 ± 1.7; 8.8 ± 2.7 and 16.8 ± 2.1 days of illness. Positive lgM titer from acute sera was observed in 20% of subjects. A positive correlation between HI -lgM and HI -lgG was also observed. The percentage of positive lgM titers rose with the increase of HI titer, the percentage of positive lgG titer was lower than that of /gM but a sudden increase exceeding that of lgM was observed at the HI liter of 320 and more. This study revealed that HI titer of640 and 1280 were indicators for the primary and secondary dengue infection respectively and lgM capture ELISA can be used as a reliable predictor for DHF even more in fatal cases where only single serum is available.