No abstract

The interventions for blood safety measures applied in this study had mitigated the potential transfusion-associated CHIKF during the 2009 epidemic.

The majority of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection results in chronic infection, which can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Global burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated at 150 million individuals, or 3% of the world’s population. The distribution of the seven major genotypes of HCV varies with geographical regions. Since Asia has a high incidence of HCV, we assessed the distribution of HCV genotypes in Thailand and Southeast Asia. From 588 HCV-positive samples obtained throughout Thailand, we characterized the HCV 5’ untranslated region, Core, and NS5B regions by nested PCR. Nucleotide sequences obtained from both the Core and NS5B of these isolates were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, and genotypes were assigned using published reference genotypes. Results were compared to the epidemiological data of HCV genotypes identified within Southeast Asian. Among the HCV subtypes characterized in the Thai samples, subtype 3a was the most predominant (36.4%), followed by 1a (19.9%), 1b (12.6%), 3b (9.7%) and 2a (0.5%). While genotype 1 was prevalent throughout Thailand (27–36%), genotype 3 was more common in the south. Genotype 6 (20.9%) constituted subtype 6f (7.8%), 6n (7.7%), 6i (3.4%), 6j and 6m (0.7% each), 6c (0.3%), 6v and 6xa (0.2% each) and its prevalence was significantly lower in southern Thailand compared to the north and northeast (p = 0.027 and p = 0.030, respectively). Within Southeast Asia, high prevalence of genotype 6 occurred in northern countries such as Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, while genotype 3 was prevalent in Thailand and Malaysia. Island nations of Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines demonstrated prevalence of genotype 1. This study further provides regional HCV genotype information that may be useful in fostering sound public health policy and tracking future patterns of HCV spread.

Background Scianna (SC) blood group system comprises 2 anthithetical antigens, Sc1 and Sc2, and 5 additional antigens. The antigens reside on a glycoprotein encoded by the erythroblast membrane-associated protein (ERMAP) gene. For the common ERMAP alleles, we determined the full length nucleotide sequence that encodes the Scianna glycoprotein. Study design and methods Blood donor samples from 5 populations were analyzed including 20 African Americans, 10 Caucasians, 10 Thai, 5 Asians and 5 Hispanics for a total of 100 chromosomes. An assay was devised to determine the genomic sequence of the ERMAP gene in 1 amplicon, spanning 21.4 kb and covering exon 2 to 12 and the intervening sequence (IVS). All alleles (confirmed haplotypes) were resolved without ambiguity. Results Among 50 blood donors, we found 80 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including 6 novel SNPs, in 21,308 nucleotides covering the coding sequence of the ERMAP gene and including the introns. The non-coding sequences harbored 75 SNPs (68 in the introns; and 7 in the 3′UTR). No SNP indicative of a non-functional allele was detected. The nucleotide sequences for 48 ERMAP alleles (confirmed haplotypes) were determined by allele-specific PCR and sequencing in 100 chromosomes. Conclusions We documented 48 ERMAP alleles of 21,308 nucleotides each. The 2 nucleotide sequences available in GenBank for ERMAP alleles of similar length have not been found in our 100 chromosomes. Alleles determined without ambiguity can be used as templates to analyze next generation sequencing data, which will enhance the reliability in clinical diagnostics.

No abstract