Viruses in the Hantavirus genus, familay Bunyaviridae, include a number of important pathogens that cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in humans. In 1995, 78 human serum samples (with haemorrhagic fever syndrome) which were negative for dengue antibodies, 92 healthy human and 58 rodent sera (rattus norvegicus, rattus rattus) were collected for the detection of hantavirus antibodies. Their sera were assayed at first by the IgG- capture ELISA test. These preliminary results showed that there was circulation of Hantavirus and it is a causative agent of haemorrhagic fever in human in some areas in South Vietnam.
Infection ; Hantavirus

In 1998, Dengue viruses were prevalent in Southern Vietnam and 455.70 cases/100,000 population with 347 deaths were recorded. 219 dengue viruses were isolated from dengue haemorrhagic fever patients' serum, in which there were 26 dengue-1, 27 dengue-2, 162 dengue-3 and 4 dengue-4. 65.88% of isolates were recovered from children under 14 years old, 18.22% from older patients
Dengue ; Disease Outbreaks

In Southern Viet Nam, since 1987 up to now, the viroligical surveillance offered knowledge of the epidemic serotype of dengue virus by years and its activity cycle as dengue-1 is 6 years since 1990; dengue-3 was introduced since 1995 and still acting for 2 or 3 years in the future. Genomic structure of the DEN-2/Vietnam/87 is somewhat different in comparison with many topotypes in the world, but closely related to the DEN-2 topotype of Jamaica. A close relationship has demonstrated between the DEN-3/VietNam/97-98 with the DEN-3/Thailand/1987. Confirmed DHF cases are demonstrated through virological and serological surveillance in the first quarter of the year. Therefore, the active surveillance and the DHF control programme must be implemented within this time
Dengue ; Disease Outbreaks

This report described a program undertaken with the collaboration of the CDC (Colorado, USA) known as "Active, laboratory-based surveillance for dengue infection in Bien Hoa city in 2002". Results of this study are as follows: The predominant serotype which circulated in Bien Hoa city in 2002 was Dengue-4. The number of children Dengue ; epidemiology ; laboratories

In 2 epidemics of Dengue haemorrhagic fever in Bien Hoa, the predominant serotypes of dengue virus in the year 2000 and 2003 were Dengue-4 and Dengue-1, respectively. The number of clinical cases of children under 15 years old diagnosed as viral infection and unknown fever (n=1653), were higher than those diagnosed as Dengue fever/Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF) (n=1122). The number of Dengue virus isolated from patients with viral infection and unknown fever (n=102) was higher than those isolated from DF/DHF cases (n=85). The number of Dengue positive MAC-ELISA cases in 2 years was 870 corresponding to a positive rate of 30.27%
Dengue ; Epidemiology ; Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Endophytic fungi are promising sources for the production of podophyllotoxin-an important anticancer compound, replacing depleted medical plants. In this study, the endophytes associated with Dysosma difformis-an ethnomedicinal plant species were isolated to explore novel sources of podophyllotoxin. Fifty-three endophytic fungi were isolated and identified by morphological observation and ITS-based rDNA sequencing, assigning them to 27 genera in 3 divisions. Fusarium was found the most prevalent genus with a colonization frequency of 11.11%, followed by Trametes (9.26%) and Penicillium (7.41%). Phylogenetic trees were constructed for the endophytic fungi community in two collection sites, Ha Giang and Lai Chau, revealing the adaptation of the species to the specific tissues and habitats. Cytotoxic activity of endophytic fungal extracts was investigated on cancer cell lines such as SK-LU-1, HL-60, and HepG2, demonstrating strong anti-cancer activity of six isolates belonging to Penicillium, Trametes, Purpureocillium, Aspergillus, and Ganoderma with IC 50 value of lower than 10 10 µg/mL. The presence of podophyllotoxin was indicated in Penicillium, Trametes, Aspergillus and for the first time in Purpureocillium and Ganoderma via high-performance liquid chromatography, which implied them as a potential source of this anticancer compound.

A new compound, 3β-acetoxylanosta-7,9(11),24-triene-26-al (3), and seven known compounds (1 – 2 and 4 – 8) were isolated from Ganoderma tropicum (Jung.) Bres. collected in Tay Nguyen, Vietnam. The structures of these compounds were determined by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and high-resolution ESI-MS, and by comparison with literature data. All of the isolated compounds were tested for nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae-stimulated RAW 246.7 cells. Among them, compounds 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 enhanced the NBT reduction in a dose-dependent manner.

A new compound, 3β-acetoxylanosta-7,9(11),24-triene-26-al (3), and seven known compounds (1 – 2 and 4 – 8) were isolated from Ganoderma tropicum (Jung.) Bres. collected in Tay Nguyen, Vietnam. The structures of these compounds were determined by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and high-resolution ESI-MS, and by comparison with literature data. All of the isolated compounds were tested for nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae-stimulated RAW 246.7 cells. Among them, compounds 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 enhanced the NBT reduction in a dose-dependent manner.

Several factors presumed to facilitate the transmission of Taenia spp. were reported in Vietnam. We conducted a cross-sectional study taking questionnaires from 1,185 participants, and collecting 1,151 sera and 1,036 stool samples in northern Vietnam. Sera were examined for circulating antigens of Taenia solium cysticerci using ELISA, stools for Taenia eggs by Kato-Katz smear, and copro-antigens by ELISA. Ag-ELISA revealed 4.6% antigen positivity, indicating infection with viable cysticerci. Taenia eggs were detected in 1.5% of participants. Copro-antigens were found in 2.8% of participants. Eating raw meat and/or vegetables was significantly associated with the presence of copro-antigen (OR=8.6, 95% CI: 1.16-63.9, P=0.01). Considering the high taeniasis prevalence and the associated threat, public health attention should be given to treat the tapeworm carriers in the projected areas.

Several factors presumed to facilitate the transmission of Taenia spp. were reported in Vietnam. We conducted a cross-sectional study taking questionnaires from 1,185 participants, and collecting 1,151 sera and 1,036 stool samples in northern Vietnam. Sera were examined for circulating antigens of Taenia solium cysticerci using ELISA, stools for Taenia eggs by Kato-Katz smear, and copro-antigens by ELISA. Ag-ELISA revealed 4.6% antigen positivity, indicating infection with viable cysticerci. Taenia eggs were detected in 1.5% of participants. Copro-antigens were found in 2.8% of participants. Eating raw meat and/or vegetables was significantly associated with the presence of copro-antigen (OR=8.6, 95% CI: 1.16-63.9, P=0.01). Considering the high taeniasis prevalence and the associated threat, public health attention should be given to treat the tapeworm carriers in the projected areas.