Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Scleroderma is a chronic systemic disorder that affects the connective tissues. It is characterized by several immune manifestations, inflammation, vascular damage, and fibrosis. Some of the viral infections with complex mechanisms are involved in the development and progression of many autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma. The present study aimed to investigate the serological prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in Iranian patients with scleroderma.
Methods: In this descriptive study 65 patients with scleroderma and 65 healthy individuals who had no autoimmune diseases and matched for age and sex, from May 2017 to April 2018 at Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, were included. The serum of study participants were evaluated for cytomegalovirus specific immunoglobulin G (CMV-IgG), Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen immunoglobulin G (EBV-VCA-IgG), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVAb), and human immunodeficiency virus antibody (HIVAb) using commercially available the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
Results: CMV-IgG was diagnosed in serum of all patients with scleroderma, while 49 (98%) healthy subjects had positive results for this test. In addition, EBV-VCA-IgG was diagnosed in 58 (89.2%) sclerodermic patients and 40 (80%) healthy subjects. The prevalence of CMV-IgG and EBV-VCA-IgG was not significantly different between patients and healthy subjects and had no significant relationship with age and sex. However, the titer of antibodies against CMV and EBV infections in the scleroderma group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.0001, and P<0.0001), respectively. The presence of HBsAg and HIVAb was not confirmed in any of the patients with scleroderma, but HCVAb was detected only in one patient. All of the individuals in control group were serologically negative for HBsAg, HCVAb, and HIVAb.
Conclusion: Serological prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, EBV, and CMV infections in patients with scleroderma is similar to the healthy group.

Background: The H9N2 subtype of the influenza virus, which is endemic in many regions of Iran, is considered as a candidate for future pandemics. In the present study, excretion time of the Iranian endemic influenza virus (H9N2 subtype) from the feces and pharyngeal secretions of laying chicken breeds was evaluated.
Methods: This experimental study conducted at the Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, and the Department of Clinical Science in School of Veterinary Medicine of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, from June 2017 to September 2017. At first, the influenza virus A/Chicken/Iran/SH-110/99 (H9N2) was cultured in the allantoic fluid of the embryonated egg and the EID50 for virus was determined by Reed and Muench method. Afterward, the Hy-Line chicks were inoculated intranasally with 106 EID50/ml of influenza virus (H9N2 subtype) and samples were collected from the oropharynx and feces of the birds on days 2, 5, 10 and 17 after inoculation. The presence of the virus in the samples of challenged birds was assessed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Results: The influenza virus was shed from the oro-pharyngeal secretion and feces of the birds 2 days post-infection, and continued until days 10 and 17, respectively. In comparison to the oro-pharynx, the virus was recovered in the feces for a longer time. The influenza virus was detected in 100% and 57.1% of oro-pharyngeal and feces samples of the infected birds on day 2, 85.7% and 100% on day 5, 28.6% and 71.4% on day 10, and 0% and 28.6% on day 17 post-inoculation, respectively. The maximum risk of infected chicken for humans is seen from 2 to 5 days post-infection.
Conclusion: Detection of virus in the samples of birds that challenged with the H9N2 influenza virus showed that the virus could shed from the feces to the surrounding environment longer than the pharyngeal secretions and could be hazardous to humans in contact.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects almost all organs of the body, and viral infections are involved in its development and progression. The present study aimed to evaluate the serological status of some viral infections in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and a healthy population.
Methods: This descriptive study conducted from May 2017 to April 2018 at Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran on 70 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 70 healthy individuals who had no autoimmune diseases and were matched with the patient group for age and sex. All patients had active records and were routinely visited in rheumatology clinic of Hafez hospital, affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The evidence of active disease was assessed by the physicians of this practice according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Peripheral blood samples were collected in tubes containing EDTA and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 min. The plasma of study participants was evaluated for HBsAg, HCVAb, HIVAb, EBV-VCA-IgG, and CMV-IgG using a commercially available ELISA kit.

Conclusion: Considering the higher frequency of EBV-VCA-IgG and the higher titer of antibodies against CMV and EBV in patient groups compared to healthy individuals group, it seems that periodical assessment of viral load in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus will be beneficial to prescribe medication by physicians if it is needed.