AIM Study molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C (HC) in 5 departments of hemodialysis (DH) in St. Petersburg. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sequences of nucleotides of 93 isolates including 67 isolates from patents of 5 DH and 26 isolates from patients, who never had hemodialysis in anamnesis, were obtained in 2010 by a method of limited sequencing of NS5B region of HC virus genome. Phyologenetic analysis was carried out by using PHYLIP veision 3.69 program package. Evolution differences were evaluated in DNADIST program using F84 algorithm. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by using nearest neighbor and UOGMA methods in PHYLIP program package. RESULTS Subtype 1b was established to dominate in all the DH (69.2 - 92.9%) and the same isolates of HC virus were detected in DH, that were isolated for the first time in 1999. Comparatively higher proportion of isolates of HC subgenotype 3a (26.7 - 30.8%) was detected in 2 of 5 DH in 2010. The same proportion of 3a isolates was detected in the control group. CONCLUSION The fact that HC 3a virus isolates were detected in DH in a higher proportion is proof that they have successfully integrated into circulation among dialysis patients over the last decade. ,

Abstract. Hemo-contact viral hepatitis B and C is significant public health problem in hospitals and particularly in hemodialisys units. To define modern situation of the problem the retrospective study of viral hepatitis B and C registration in hemodialysis units in Saint-Petersburg in 1997–2007 as well as testing of 295 patients from four units for serological markers of hepatitis B and C (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HCV) have been conducted. It was determined that registration of hepatitis B in the study period was 5,2 cases per 1000 patients/per year, hepatitis C — 8,2 cases per 1000 patients/per year. These rates were significantly higher than in the total city population. The serological markers of ongoing or past HBV/HCV infection were revealed in 78,3 per 100 patients. Obtained results confirm intensive viral circulation in hemodialysis units. Additional study of transmission routes using molecular epidemiology techniques is required.

AIM To determine immune structure of different population groups in Saint-Petersburg to hepatitis A virus in 2009 in order to study trends of epidemic process dynamics and planning of prophylactic measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nine hundred and three citizens of Saint-Petersburg aged 3 months to 60 years were tested for anti-HAV by ELISA in 2009. Results were compared with data of previous study conducted in Saint-Petersburg in 1999. Two hundred injection drug users (IDUs) aged 14 - 29 years were tested additionally. RESULTS In total in 2009, anti-HAV were detected in 32.5 +/- 1.6% citizens of Saint-Petersburg that is 2-fold lower than in 1999 (60.2 +/- 1.5%). Especially sharp decrease of anti-HAV prevalence in 2009 compared to 1999 was observed in age groups 15 - 19 years (by 2.6-fold), 20 - 29 years (by 3.1-fold), and 30 - 39 years (2.8-fold). Anti-HAV were detected in 58.5 +/- 3.5% of tested IDUs that 2.8-fold higher of that value observed in persons 14 - 29 years old from population sample (21.7 +/- 2.4%). CONCLUSION Decrease of immunity to HA in population of Saint-Petersburg is very unfavorable prognostic factor pointing to strong possibility of HA outbreaks onset during worsening of epidemic situation. In such circumstances, active immunization against HA of wide strata of population should become important prophylactic measure.