Gabriela Muñoz

Publications (3)5.26 Total impact

• Article: Diversity of hepatitis B and C viruses in Chile.

  Federico A Di Lello, Flavia G Piñeiro Y Leone, Gabriela Muñoz, Rodolfo H Campos
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  ABSTRACT: Although there is a low prevalence rate (around 1% of the population) of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Chile, little is known about the diversity and molecular characteristics of the circulating viruses. In the present study, 40 HBV and 57 HCV samples from Santiago City, Chile, were examined. The phylogenetic analysis of HBV samples showed the autochthonous genotype F as the most represented genotype in the study (67.5%), while genotypes A, B, C, and D were less frequent (7.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 12.5%, respectively). The frequency of circulation of HBV genotypes observed is in accordance with the genetic background of the Chilean population. Most of the HCV samples tested belonged to subtype 1b (82%). The coalescent analysis conducted for both the NS5A and NS5B regions of the HCV strains showed similar population growth rates, with a most recent common ancestor estimated to date between 1893 and 1901. This result may indicate that genotype 1b strains circulating in Chile have epidemiological features similar to those described for HCV genotype 1b in Brazil and the United States. However, the most recent common ancestor for Chile is older than that reported recently for genotype 1b in Argentina.
  Journal of Medical Virology 11/2009; 81(11):1887-94. · 2.82 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Mauricio Venegas

  Article: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus genotypes in chronic carriers in Santiago, Chile.

  Mauricio Venegas, Gabriela Muñoz, Carmen Hurtado, Luis Alvarez, Marta Velasco, Rodrigo A Villanueva, Javier Brahm
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  ABSTRACT: The eight genotypes (designated A-H) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) display distinctive geographical distribution worldwide, with genotypes A, D and F frequently detected in South America. To determine the prevalence of HBV genotypes in Santiago, Chile, 131 samples from chronic carriers were used for PCR amplification, and genotyping was performed by RFLP. The results indicated that genotype F was the most prevalent among HBV carries (84% of the cases), whereas genotypes A, B, C and D were found at a prevalence of 3.8, 3.8, 6.1, and 2.3%, respectively. We discuss these data in the complex scenario of HBV epidemiology.
  Archives of Virology 11/2008; 153(11):2129-32. · 2.11 Impact Factor
• Article: [Detection of IgM antibodies against hepatitis E virus].

  Carmen Hurtado, Gabriela Muñoz, Javier Brahm
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  ABSTRACT: Hepatitis E virus is the main enterically transmitted non A non B hepatitis agent. The host IgM response in the acute infection phase is short lived. Therefore, only IgG antibodies against E virus are usually investigated. To measure IgM antibodies against virus E in serum samples. IgM antibodies against virus E were measured by ELISA in 35 positive and 18 negative serum samples for IgG antibodies against hepatitis virus E, without evidence of infection with hepatitis A, B or C virus. Measurement of the same antibodies in 25 additional samples positive for IgM antibodies against hepatitis A virus but without study for hepatitis virus B or C. IgM antibodies against virus E were detected in 12 of the 35 samples positive for IgG antibodies (34%) and in five of the 25 samples positive for antibodies against virus A (20%). An acute hepatitis E virus infection was detected in 34% of samples positive for IgG antibodies against this virus. The absence of IgM antibodies in the rest of the IgG positive samples could be due to an old or a recent virus E infection in the stage of antibody titer reduction. The detection of IgM antibodies against virus E in samples positive for virus A antibodies, could be due to co infection by virus A and E or a cross reaction of assays.
  Revista medica de Chile 07/2005; 133(6):645-7. · 0.33 Impact Factor