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TropicalMed
Special Issues
Viral Hepatitis: Current Status and Future Perspective
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Viral Hepatitis: Current Status and Future Perspective

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (18 January 2024) | Viewed by 9725

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bárbara Vieira Do Lago

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
Interests: viral hepatitis; viral therapies; vaccination; phylogeny; molecular epidemiology; phylogeography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Francisco Campello Amaral Mello

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-⁠900, Brazil
Interests: viral hepatitis; molecular epidemiology; virus evolution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Viral hepatitis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is responsible for an estimated 1·34 million deaths per year due to severe liver disease such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As part of the Agenda for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2030, a World Health Organization (WHO) global hepatitis strategy endorsed by all WHO Member States, a goal to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030 was set. Five hepatotropic viruses cause the main types of viral hepatitis: hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D (delta) virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). These variants all lead to liver disease of variable severity and differ in geographical distribution, transmission routes, and prevention methods. This Special Issue aims to address (but not exclusively) the following topics of interest: 1) the epidemiology and molecular epidemiology of viral hepatitis in key populations; 2) viral hepatitis and co-infections; 3) genetic variability and the emergence of clinically relevant variants; 4) advances in diagnostic methods; 5) new insights into prevention, management, and control of viral hepatitis; 6) new therapeutics findings; 7) natural history and host immune response.

Dr. Bárbara Vieira Do Lago
Dr. Francisco Campello Amaral Mello
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • HAV
  • HBV
  • HCV
  • HDV
  • HEV
  • acute and chronic hepatitis
  • epidemiology
  • molecular epidemiology
  • diagnosis
  • prevention, management, and control

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 1456 KiB  
Article
Results of Response-Guided Therapy with Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a in Chronic Hepatitis B and D
by George S. Gherlan, Stefan D. Lazar, Augustina Culinescu, Dana Smadu, Andreea R. Vatafu, Corneliu P. Popescu, Simin A. Florescu, Emanoil Ceausu and Petre I. Calistru
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(4), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9040073 - 30 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1474
Abstract
Pegylated interferon alpha 2a continues to be used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis D. The reported on-treatment virologic response varies between 17 and 47%, with relapses in more than 50% of these patients. No stopping rules have been defined, and the duration [...] Read more.
Pegylated interferon alpha 2a continues to be used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis D. The reported on-treatment virologic response varies between 17 and 47%, with relapses in more than 50% of these patients. No stopping rules have been defined, and the duration of the treatment is not clearly established, but it should be between 48 and 96 weeks. In total, 76 patients with compensated liver disease treated with peg-interferon according to the Romanian National protocol for the treatment of hepatitis D were retrospectively included. The duration of treatment was up to 96 weeks, with the following stopping rules: less than a 2 log HDV RNA decrease by week 24 and less than a 1 log decrease every 6 months afterwards. Six months after stopping the treatment, it can be restarted for unlimited cycles. The inclusion criteria were aged above 18, HBs Ag-positive, HDV RNA detectable, ALT above ULN and/or liver fibrosis at least F1 at liver biopsy, or Fibrotest and/or Fibroscan higher than 7 KPa and/or inflammation at least A1 at liver biopsy or Fibrotest. We monitored our patients for a total period of 4 years (including those that repeated the cycle). After the first 6 months of treatment, 27 patients (35.5%) had a greater than 2 log HDV RNA decrease, 19 of them achieving undetectable HDV RNA. Seventeen patients (22.3%) had undetectable HDV RNA 24 weeks after stopping 96 weeks of treatment, and none relapsed in the following 2 years. Of these 17 patients, 6 were cirrhotic, and 4 had F3. Undetectable HDV RNA at 24 weeks was the only parameter that predicted a long-term suppression of HDV RNA. In 49 patients, the treatment was stopped after 6 months according to protocol, but it was restarted 6 months later. Five of these patients finished a 48-week course of treatment; none achieved undetectable HDV RNA. During the first course of therapy, 45 patients had at least one moderate adverse reaction to treatment. In one patient, the treatment was stopped due to a serious adverse event (osteomyelitis). Treatment doses had to be reduced in 29 patients. The virologic response at week 24 can select the patients who will benefit from continuing the treatment from those who should be changed to another type of medication when available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Hepatitis: Current Status and Future Perspective)
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11 pages, 1192 KiB  
Article
Hepatitis E Virus in the Wild Boar Population: What Is the Real Zoonotic Risk in Portugal?
by Ana Carolina Abrantes, Sérgio Santos-Silva, João Mesquita and Madalena Vieira-Pinto
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(9), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8090433 - 31 Aug 2023
Viewed by 2086
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important zoonosis in wild boar. Reported zoonotic cases are mainly associated with the consumption of raw/undercooked meat and/or liver. This study aims to determine the occurrence of HEV in the Portuguese wild boar population. During the hunting [...] Read more.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important zoonosis in wild boar. Reported zoonotic cases are mainly associated with the consumption of raw/undercooked meat and/or liver. This study aims to determine the occurrence of HEV in the Portuguese wild boar population. During the hunting season 2021/2022, 123-matched samples (liver, faeces, and blood) were collected from hunted wild boars throughout Portugal. An RT-PCR assay tested liver and faeces samples to detect HEV-RNA. From blood samples, an ELISA test was performed. Only one liver sample was positive for HEV (0,8%) and one other from faeces. A total of 34 sera were seropositive (26.7%). At the same time, in a survey of 106 hunters, 21 consumed/ate the liver of wild boars (19.8%). Only three recognised the possibility of consuming it undercooked. Contrary to previous studies in Portugal, the prevalence of HEV in liver and faeces is low, but the seropositivity is higher. But, when analyzing in detail, it could be observed that an HEV hotspot exists in the southeast of central Portugal and that it is a zoonotic risk for hunters of this region. The data of this study reinforce the importance of including HEV in surveillance programs for wildlife diseases to expand the potential zoonotic information. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Hepatitis: Current Status and Future Perspective)
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8 pages, 607 KiB  
Article
Hepatitis B Prevalence among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Brazil
by Ana Rita C. Motta-Castro, Lígia Kerr, Carl Kendall, Rosa S. Mota, Mark Drew C. Guimarães, Andréa Fachel Leal, Edgar Merchan-Hamann, Inês Dourado, Maria Amélia Veras, Ana Maria de Brito, Alexandre Kerr Pontes, Raimunda Hermelinda M. Macena, Daniela Knauth, Luana N. G. C. Lima, Socorro Cavalcante, Ximena P. Díaz-Bermúdez, Lisangela C. Oliveira, Laio Magno, Ana Cláudia Camillo, Marcílio F. Lemos, Vanessa Cristina M. Silva, Adriana P. Compri and Regina Célia Moreiraadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040218 - 6 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5438
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global public health problem and requires specific prevention actions, particularly focusing on the key populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). We aimed at assessing the prevalence of HBV infection, among MSM, in a [...] Read more.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global public health problem and requires specific prevention actions, particularly focusing on the key populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). We aimed at assessing the prevalence of HBV infection, among MSM, in a multicity study in Brazil. In 2016, we conducted a survey using a respondent-driven sampling methodology in 12 Brazilian cities. Rapid tests (RT) were performed on 3178 samples from those MSM. Positive results were tested for HBV DNA and sequenced. If negative for HBV DNA, samples were tested for serological markers. The prevalence rate of HBV exposure and clearance was 10.1% (95% CI: 8.1–12.6), and 1.1% (95%; CI: 0.6–2.1) were confirmed to be HBsAg-positive. Of those samples tested for anti-HBs (n = 1033), only 74.4% presented a serological profile analogous to that elicited by hepatitis B vaccination. Among HBsAg-positive samples (n = 29), 72.4% were HBV DNA-positive, and from these, 18 were sequenced. HBV genotypes A, F, and G were found in 55.5%, 38.9%, and 5.6%, respectively. This study indicates high prevalence rates of MSM HBV exposure and a low positivity index for the serological marker of HBV vaccine immunity. These findings may contribute to the discussion of strategies to prevent hepatitis B and reinforce the importance of promoting HBV vaccination in this key population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Hepatitis: Current Status and Future Perspective)
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