Head of Laboratory - Assoc. Prof. Petya Genova-Kalou, PhD, virologist

Laboratory staff:

Ekaterina Raycheva Mihailova - senior medical laboratory assistant

Katya Atanasova Georgieva-Dimitrova - laboratory assistant

Dr. Snezhana Dikova – trainee doctor

Dragana Angelov - trainee biologist

Nina Kamenova - laboratory worker

Contact:
National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD)
Department of Virology, NRL "Cell cultures, rickettsia and oncogenic viruses"
Bul. "Gen. Stoletov”44A, Sofia 1233
Phone number 02/9313818; 02/9313817

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Working time: 07:30 am to 14:30 pm

Laboratory "Cell cultures, rickettsia and oncogenic viruses" was established in 2019 by the merger of NRL "Herpes and oncogenic viruses" and NRL "Rickettsiae and cell cultures". The laboratory carries out diagnostic, research, educational and organizational-methodological activities in the field of herpes and papilloma virus infections, rickettsia and chlamydia infections.

Diagnostic activity
In the NRL "Cell cultures, rickettsia and oncogenic viruses" diagnostic tests are performed dignostic tests for:
- Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1)
- Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV 2)
- Varicella/Herpes zoster virus (VZV / HZV)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
- Human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6)
- Coxiella burnetii
- Rickettsia conorii
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae
- Chlamydia psittaci
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Diagnosis is performed by classical and contemporary molecular-biology techniques (ELISA, PCR and IFA).

Table 1. Proposed tests depending on the infection

NRL "Cell cultures, rickettsiae and oncogenic viruses" is accredited according to BDS / ISO 17025: 2006 as Sector "Rickettsia and Chlamydia" and Sector "Herpes viruses" of LIC of NCIPD. Every year the quality of the diagnostic work in the laboratory is controlled and certified by the Institute for Standardization and Documentation of Medical Laboratories INSTAND, Düsseldorf, Germany. The laboratory has a collection of over 50 different types of human and animal cell lines, necessary for the routine diagnosis of NRL "Enteroviruses" and NRL "Influenza and ARD", as well as for the implementation of research activities.

Organizational and methodological activity

In its capacity of NRL "Cell cultures, rickettsia and oncogenic viruses" organizes and conducts twice a year quality control of diagnostic work of virological laboratories in the country. The laboratory maintains contact and cooperates with the microbiological laboratories of RHI, MHAT, DCC and private microbiological and virological laboratories, the microbiological laboratories of infectious diseases hospitals in the country, the departments of microbiology and virology of medical universities in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, Pleven and Stara Zagora. and with the Laboratory of Rickettsia and Chlamydia Infections at the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), National Diagnostic Research Veterinary Medical Institute, Sofia.

Learning activity

The laboratory conducts specialized courses under the auspices of SDO for the acquisition of the medical specialty "Virology" of doctors and biologists. It is organized annually outside the optional training of students, postgraduates and doctoral students, as well as undergraduate internship and preparation of diploma theses of masters in various specialties. In the laboratory three diploma theses were successfully made and defended by students of the Faculty of Biology of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”and two students from UCTM - Sofia for obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees. There is currently one full-time doctoral student in virology in the laboratory.

Scientific activity

The laboratory works and annually presents research projects for funding from the Research Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science. Participates in the implementation of national and international projects. The laboratory specializes in cytotoxicity testing, as well as in performing anti-viral testing of newly synthesized substances and natural products in vitro. He regularly publishes the results of his work in specialized international and Bulgarian scientific journals and reports at national and international scientific forums.

Participation in projects:

1.Research project on the topic: "Study of the chemical composition, antiviral and antibacterial activity of extracts from the plant Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walter (Crassulaceae)", “Scientific Research Fund” Competition for financing scientific research - 2017 ”, Contract № DN19 / 16, 20.12.2017 Head of the partner organization: Assoc. Prof. Petia Genova-Kalou, PhD. Term of implementation: 2018 - 2020.

2. Research project on the topic: "Molecular genetic identification and creation of an archival genomic bank of circulating human and animal C. burnetii genotypes and determining their role as particularly dangerous infectious agents causing epizootic and epidemiological outbreaks in the Republic of Bulgaria”, "Scientific Research Fund" Competition for research funding - 2019. " Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Petia Genova-Kalou, PhD. Term of implementation: 2019 - 2022.

Important publications:

1. Genova-Kalou P., Vladimirova N., Stoitsova S., Krumova S., Kurchatova A., Kantardjiev T. (2019). Q fever in Bulgaria: laboratory and epidemiological findings on human cases and outbreaks, 2011 to 2017. Euro Surveill., 24(37): pii = 1900119. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917 (IF = 7.4)
2. Zaharieva M., Genova-Kalou P., Dincheva I., Badjakov I., Krumova S., Enchev V., Najdenski H., Markova N. (2019). Anti-Herpes Simplex virus and antibacterial activities of Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther leaf extract: a pilot study. Biotechnology and Biotechnological Equipment, 33(1): 1251 – 1259. doi: 10.1080/13102818.2019.1656108 (IF = 1.097)
3. Krumova St., Pavlova A., Yotovska K., Genova-Kalou P. (2019). Combined laboratory approach to detection of Parvovirus B19 and Coxiella burnetii in patients with fever of unknown origin. Clinical Laboratory, 65: 69 – 76. (IF = 0.955)
4. Ivanova Stefka, Petia Genova-Kalou, Daniela Pencheva, Zafira Mihneva. A combined serological and molecular approach to the laboratory testing of patients with reactive arthritis - detection of parvovirus B19 and Chlamydia trachomatis. Comp. Ren.de l’Acad. Bulg. Des. Sci., 2016, 69 (2), 197 - 202. (IF = 0.284)
5. Stefka Kr. Ivanova, Petia D. Genova-Kalou, Silvia Em. Voleva, Svetla G. Angelova, Borislav M. Marinov, Viktor Em. Manolov, Stoian Shishkov. Infectious Agents and Miscarriage in Bulgaria. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS), 2016, 25(1), 1 - 10. (IF = 0.296)
6. Voleva S., Ivanova S., Marinov B., Genova-Kalou, V. Manolov, V. Vasilev. New approach in the diagnostic algorithm of infectious agents (parvovirus B19 and Chlamydia trachomatis) involved in the development of pathological pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2016, 55(3), 3 – 10.
7. Adelina P. Pavlova, Stefka Kr. Ivanova, Petia D. Genova-Kalou. The role of some viral and rickettsial agents in the development of unclear febrile illness accompanied by a rash. Medical Magazine, 2016, 35, 38 - 44.
8. Pencheva, D., Genova-Kalou, P., Bryaskova, R. Comparative study of methods for inactivation of vaccines in development process of veterinary “ghost” vaccine. Comptes Rendus de L'Academie Bulgare des Sciences, 2016, 69(5), 675 - 682. (IF = 0.284)
9. Daniela Pencheva, Tzvetan Velinov, Petia Genova-Kalou, Todor Kantardjiev. The hybrid nanomaterial PVA/AgNps, as biologically active product with reserved space in the antimicrobial therapy. Letters in Applied NanoBioScience, 2016, 5 (3): 422 – 438.
10. Pencheva D., Velichkova E., Sandarov D., Cardoso A., Mileva M., Genova-Kalou P., Bryaskova R. Experimental Research of “Ghost” Escherichia Coli O 104. Journal of Vaccines and Vaccination, 2015, 6 (4), 4 pages.
11. Pencheva D., Velichkova E., Sandarov D., Cardoso A., Mileva M., Genova-Kalou P., Bryaskova R. Experimental study on the components in poly-valent "ghost" Salmonella vaccine for veterinary use. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2015, Vol. 2015 (2015), Article ID 101464, 4 pages. (IF = 1.644)
12. Radka Argirova, Raina Nenova, Dimitar Ivanov, Petia Genova-Kalou, Sevda Raleva. Experimental model to study co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus – type 1 (HIV-1IIIB) and influenza virus in cell culture. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2015, 6 pages. (IF = 0.300)
13. Mileva M., Pencheva D., Bryaskova, R., Genova-Kalоu P., Kantardjiev T. Experimental treatment of recurrent otitis externa. Open Veterinary Journal, 2015, 5(1), 38 - 41.
14. Genova-Kalou, P., J. Cherneva, M. Jordanova, A. Jordanova. The serological evaluation of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Chlamydia pneumoniae infections in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). J. Sc. & Techn., Medicine, 2013, 3(1), 26 - 31.
15. Benedetti F., Berti F., Budal S., Campaner P., Dinon F., Tossi A., Genova P., Atanassov V., Hinkov A. Synthesis and biological activity of potent HIV-1 protease inhibitors based on Phe-Pro dihydroxyethylene isosters. J Med Chem, 2012, 55, 3900 – 3910. (IF = 5.589)
16. Stankova, K. Stanoeva, A. Hinkov, I. Alexiev, P. Genova-Kalou, R. Chayrov. R. Argirova. Amino acid and peptide esters of abacavir: synthesis and activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in cell culture. Med Chem Res., 2012, 21 (12), 4053 – 4059. (IF = 1.436)
17. Genova-Kalou, P., Dundarova, D., Idakieva, K., Mohmmed, A., Dundarov, S., Argirova, R. (2008). Anti-herpes effect of the hemocyanin derived from mollusc Rapana Thomasiana. Z Naturforsch, 63с, р. 429 – 434. (IF = 0.776)
18. Kovala-Demertzi, D., Varadinova, T., Genova, P., Souza, Demertzis, M. A. (2007). Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes of Pyridine-2-carbaldehyde Thiosemicarbazone as Alternative anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Agents. Bioinorg Chem Appl, Published online, Article ID 56165, 1 - 6. (IF = 1.265).

PRICE LIST

Contact:

1233 Sofia, Bulgaria; 44A, Gen. Stoletov blvd.

Head of the laboratory

Dr. Dimo Dimov
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Laboratory Staff:

• Mariela Hristova-Savova - Biologist
• Tanya Lazarova - Biologist
• Ekaterina Mihaylova - Senior medical laboratory technician

Diagnostic activity

The laboratory is involved in deciphering the role of human herpesviruses in neuropathology in the country and applying molecular-genetic methods to demonstrate human herpesviruses in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with neurological diseases.

Specific herpesviruses for which we test clinical samples (serum, whole blood, urethral and vaginal swabs, urine, CSF, etc.) are HSV-1/2, VZV, CMV, EBV. Tests are performed using state-of-the-art ELISA and PCR methods with high sensitivity and specificity that detect antibodies and DNA, respectively. These methods are critical to support evidence-based clinical decisions.

In addition, the laboratory uses molecular diagnostic methods for the specific identification of up to 21 types of low-risk and high-risk human papillomavirus to determine the molecular-epidemiological spectrum of this infection in the Bulgarian population. This diagnostic test provides the earliest opportunity to diagnose papillomavirus (HPV) infection and stratify the risk of developing cervical cancer as well as other cancers caused by HPV. The results are key to guiding future therapeutic decisions.

Consultative activity

The laboratory offers on-site consultation with a physician regarding the diseases caused by the specific viruses. The consultation includes a standard medical examination, recommendations for tests (if necessary), explanation and interpretation of tests, advice and prescription of outpatient treatment (if necessary) according to current guidelines.

Participation in interlaboratory and international controls

NRL "Herpes and oncogenic viruses" at the NCIPD, conducts twiceyearly inter-laboratory control of laboratories in the Republic of Bulgaria that perform tests for herpes markers.

The laboratory participates annually in an international control for the diagnosis of the above-mentioned markers, organized and conducted by the specialized institute - Germany. For the successful performance it receives certificates.

Training

The Herpes and Oncogenic Viruses Laboratory annually provides training for students, biologists, medical and laboratory professionals in the form of postgraduate training and as part of the training for the medical specialties of Microbiology, Virology and Epidemiology and other specialties in the form of thematic courses "Modern etiological diagnosis and etiotropic therapy of herpesvirus infections" and "Modern methods for diagnosis and prevention of HPV infections".

Pricelist

of the paid services provided by NCIPD, based on the Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 255 / 17.10.2012, promulgated in the State Gazette No. 81 / 23.10.2012 and Order No. 452 of 26.10.2012 of the Director of the NCIPD

NRL of Measles, Mumps, Rubella

Department Virology

National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases

Address:

14 A General Stoletov blvd., 1233 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: +359 2 9312324

Laboratory staff:

Head of Laboratory:

Assoc. Prof. Stefka Krumova, PhD

• Radostina Stefanova, biologist
• Marina Doncheva, medical laboratory assistant
• Emilia Stefanova, senior medical laboratory assistant
• Liliana Stoichkova, laboratory worker

 History of laboratory

 In 1974 the laboratory was created following the consolidation of existing laboratories "Measles" and "Mumps" and in 1978 the laboratory started to includes the problem "rubella".

By 2000 laboratory "Measles, mumps, rubella" is developing in several areas: scientific, viral diagnostic, production and training. Also seroepidemiological studies on the immune status of the population and control the effectiveness of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines in Bulgaria and improving the quality of Bulgarian vaccine preparations (measles and mumps) and associated (measles / mumps) vaccines and diagnostic agents which are used for serological tests.

After 2000 the laboratory is primarily engaged in diagnostic (development of new serological and virological methods), developing scientific problems, education and training aimed at: postgraduate education of specialists from the healthcare network and student training and seroepidemiological studies on vaccine-preventable diseases - measles, mumps, and rubella.

By order of the Ministry of 04/06/2001, the lab receives reference functions for the country and was renamed the NRL "Measles, mumps, rubella."

Over the years, the laboratory has been headed by renowned experts in the field of virology, including Assoc. Prof. A. Mihailov to 2008 and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Z. Mihneva to 2014.

Laboratory activities

The activities of the NRL "Measles, mumps, rubella" include detection the role of measles, mumps, rubella and human parvovirus B19 in infectious pathology of the country with different diagnostic methods:

• Decryption etiology outbreaks of these infections;
• Differential diagnosis approach of laboratory testing of complicated clinical cases (including neurological complications, complications due to maternal-fetal infection, etc.);
• Monitoring the effect of specific control of these infections, testing of specific serological profile on group of risk: women of childbearing age, medical staff, immunocompromised persons, etc;
• Testing of immune status for rubella and parvovirus B19 of women of childbearing age and pregnant women which are in contact with fever-rash infections and women included in the "in vitro" fertilization program, etc .;
• Issuance of a medical certificate to persons for work and education abroad regarding immune status against infections measles, mumps and rubella;
• Study on the prevalence of human parvovirus B19 in the country and its participation in different clinical manifestations;
• Conducting active serological and molecular-epidemiological surveillance of fever-rash cases as part of the European laboratory network for measles and rubella (WHO / EURO Measles / Rubella Laboratory Network), and for the purposes of national vaccine programs in the period elimination of these infections; NRL must investigate, rejected or confirmed every possible case of measles and rubella in the country;
• NRL evaluated twice a year the quality of diagnostic work of the virological laboratories in the country about detection of specific antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella.

The diagnostic activity of NRL is related to the detection of basic markers of measles, mumps and rubella and is accredited by Standards BG EN ISO / IEC 17025.

Since 2022, NRL "Measles, mumps, rubella" begins to research and validate methods for proving the monkeypox virus (MPOX) in Bulgaria, by means of real time PCR, studying all possible cases in the country.

NRL "Measles, mumps, rubella" is part of the Global Laboratory Network WHO measles and rubella (The WHO Global Measles/Rubella Laboratory Network) and participates annually in several international programs for external control and quality assessment of diagnostic work (Institute INSTANT, Dusseldorf - Germany, European Reference Center WHO - Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany and WHO Regional Measles Reference Laboratory -VIDRL, Melbourne, Australia.

 National Programme for elimination of measles and rubella

(2019-2022)

NRL "Measles, mumps, rubella" is the main contractor of the National Program for Elimination of Measles and Rubella (2019-2022) and working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, RHI, Department of Epidemiology NCIPD. In this regard:

• Conducting a National Sero-epidemiological study of Collective Immunity against Measles and Rubella - the study includes individuals from all age groups and regions of the country, started in January 2021 with the collection of clinical materials and ends in December 2021. The NRL will perform all laboratory tests, and the data will be presented in national and international forums.

• Study and laboratory research of all reported cases of measles and rubella in the country.

• Determining the all measles genotypes circulating in the country, after the great measles outbreak 2009-2010.

• Determination of genetic mutations, incl. unique to the measles and rubella virus in the country.

NRL "Measles, mumps, rubella" participates in the WHO International Project for Whole-Genome Sequencing of Measles viruses circulating in Central and Western Europe. The project includes NRLs from Central and Western Europe; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin; Institute of Public Health, Luxembourg.

    Offered tests in laboratory

Price list of paid services provided by NCIPD, MS№ 255/17.10.2012,

81/ 23.10.2012

Defended theses and major publications:

• S. Voleva. „Serological and molecular genetic study of the spread of parvovirus B19 among pregnant women and women of childbearing age in Bulgaria“. Diss., Sofia, 2020.
• A. Toshev. "Distribution of Erythroviruses in Bulgaria: serological, virological and molecular genetic studies", Diss., Sofia, 2015.
• St. Krumova. "Morpho-functional studies on the spermatogenesis of infertile men with azoospermia", Diss., Sofia, 2012.
• Z. Mihneva. "Sero-epidemiological studies in pregnant women exposed to rubella and some experimental data on the reproduction of the rubella virus", Diss., Sofia, 1977.

Publications:

1. Krumova, S.; Andonova, I.; Stefanova, R.; Miteva, P.; Nenkova, G.; Hübschen, J.M. (2022): Primate Erythroparvovirus 1 Infection in Patients with Hematological Disorders. Pathogens, 11, 497. Impact factor 4.531; Q2

https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11050497

https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85129458174&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=Krumova&st2=Stefka&nlo=1&nlr=20&nls=afprfnm-t&sid=5fef27893466c12cb0ef0ac9cb256137&sot=anl&sdt=aut&sl=39&s=AU-ID%28%22Krumova%2c+Stefka+T.%22+57195807208%29&relpos=3&citeCnt=0&searchTerm=

2. Krumova St., Andonova I., Stefanova R., Nenkova G., Genova-Kalou P. (2022): Measles Virus and Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis. Clinical laboratory, 68(9), 1850 – 1855, 7754/Clin.Lab.2021.211147. Impact factor 1,138; Q3

https://doi.org/10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.211147

https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85138129399&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=Krumova&st2=Stefka&nlo=1&nlr=20&nls=afprfnm-t&sid=5fef27893466c12cb0ef0ac9cb256137&sot=anl&sdt=aut&sl=39&s=AU-ID%28%22Krumova%2c+Stefka+T.%22+57195807208%29&relpos=2&citeCnt=0&searchTerm=

3. Krumova St., Santibanez S., Andonova I., Stefanova R., Mankertz A., Kantardjiev T. (2022): Detection of measles virus in Bulgaria from 2012 to 2018. Croat Med J.; 63: 475-81. Impact factor 1,638; Q3

https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2022.63.475

https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85141182242&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=Krumova&st2=Stefka&nlo=1&nlr=20&nls=afprfnm-t&sid=5fef27893466c12cb0ef0ac9cb256137&sot=anl&sdt=aut&sl=39&s=AU-ID%28%22Krumova%2c+Stefka+T.%22+57195807208%29&relpos=0&citeCnt=0&searchTerm=

4. Stefka Krumova, Ivona Andonova, Savina Stoitsova, Radostina Stefanova, Nadezhda Vladimirova, Kremena Parmakova, Anna Kurchatova (2021): Prevalence of measles IgG antibodies among healthcare workers in Bulgaria

Probl. Inf. Parasit. Dis., Vol. 49, 2.

5. Ivona Andonova,  Radostina Stefanova,  Stefka Krumova (2020):  Laboratory comparative analysis of serological and molecular biological methods for detection of measles virus in Bulgaria, Problems of Infectious and Parasitic Disease, vol.48, number2/2020, p 5-11.

6. Ivona Andonova, Radostina Stefanova, Stefka Krumova (2020): Laboratory comparative analysis of serological and molecular biological methods for detection of measles virus in Bulgaria, Problems of Infectious and Parasitic Disease, vol.48, number2/2020, p 5-11.
7. Krumova St., Pavlova A., Yotovska K., Genova-Kalou P. (2019): Combined laboratory approach to detection of Parvovirus B19 and Coxiella burnetii in patients with fever of unknown origin. Clinical Laboratory. 1+2.
8. Krumova St., Golkocheva-Markova E., Angelova S., Voleva S., Pavlova A., Georgieva I., Genova-Kalou P. (2019): Dried Blood Spots as a Clinical Samples for Laboratory Diagnosis and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Bulgaria. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS), Volume 51, No 1, pp 183-191.
9. Krumova, S., Golkocheva-Markova, E., Pavlova, A., Georgieva, I., Angelova, S., Genova-Kalou, P. (2019). Detection of Measles and Rubella Antibodies in Dried Blood Spots. Problems of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. 46(2):20-24
10. Voleva S., Manolov V., Krumova St., Marinov B., Vasilev V., Shishkov S., Nikolaeva-Glomb L. (2019): Clinical case of parvovirus B19 infection in pregnant woman with b-thalassemia in Bulgaria. Clinical Laboratory. 65:877-879.
11. Komitova R., Kevorkyan A., Boykinova O., Krumova S., Atanasova M., Raycheva R., Stoilova Y., Kunchev A. (2019): Difficulties in achieving and maintaining the goal of measles elimination in Bulgaria. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique, Volume 67, Issue 3, Pages155-162
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respe.2019.01.120
12. Voleva, S., Manolov, V., Krumova, St., Marinov, B., Vasilev, V., Shishkov, S., Nikolaeva-Glomb, L. (2019): Clinical case of parvovirus B19 infection in pregnant woman with B-thalassemia in Bulgaria. Clin. Lab., 65, p. 877-879.
13. Kurchatova, A., Krumova, S., Vladimirova, N., Nikolaeva-Glomb, L., Stoyanova, A., Kantardjiev, T., Gatcheva, N. (2017): Preliminary findings indicate nosocomial transmission and Roma population as most affected group in ongoing measles B3 genotype outbreak in Bulgaria, March to August 2017. Euro Surveill., 22(36):pii=30611. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.36.30611.
14. Ivanova, S. K., Angelova, S., Stoyanova, A., Georgieva, I., Nikolaeva-Glomb, L., Mihneva, Z., Korsun, N. (2016): Serological and molecular biological studies of parvovirus B19, coxsackie B viruses and adenoviruses as potential cardiotropic viruses in Bulgaria. Folia Medica, 58(4), pp. 95-101. ISSN 0204-8043 (Print); ISSN 1314-2143 (Online). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/folmed-2016-0036.
15. Ivanova St., Mihneva Z, Toshev A, Kovaleva V, Andonova L, Muller C, Hubschen J. Insights into epidemiology of human parvovirus B19 and detection of an unusual genotype 2 variant, Bulgaria, 2004 to 2013. (2016): Euro Surveill. 2016, 21(4):pii=30116.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.4.30116

NATIONAL CENTRE OF INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES

DEPARTMENT OF VIROLOGY

NRL ,,HEPATITIS VIRUSES”

Address: Stoletov Blvd. 44A, Sofia 1233

Laboratory staff:

Head of NRL ,,Hepatitis viruses”: TenchoTenev, MD 

• Assistant Professor Elica Golkocheva-Markova,PhD – biologist
• Chijdem Ismailova, MSc – biologist
• Viliana Yoncheva, MSc – biologist

Laboratory activities

The main activities of the NRL ,,Hepatitis viruses” are the diagnosis of hepatotropic viruses by serological and molecular methods. The following hepatitis markers are detected:

• for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) - Anti-HAV IgM and Anti-HAV IgG;
• for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) - Anti-Hbc IgM, Anti-Hbc IgG, Anti-Hbe, HbeAg, Anti-HBs, HBV DNA and HBV genotype;
• for Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) - Anti-HDV IgM and Anti-HDV IgG;
• for Hepatitis C Virus ( HCV) - Anti-HCV and HCV RNA;
• for Hepatitis E virus ( HEV) - Anti-HEV IgM and Anti-HEV IgG.

Diagnostic activities related to serological detection follow the accredited standard BDS ENISO/IEC17025.

Participation in inter-laboratory and international control

The NRL “Hepatitis viruses” is responsible for the organization of national internal control in medical laboratories that perform diagnosis of hepatotropic viruses.

The laboratory participates in international external control of quality assurance and standardization in laboratory medicine, conducted by INSTAND, Germany.

Training

The NRL ,,Hepatitis viruses” provides training programs for graduate and PhD students, and postgraduate training for healthcare professionals.

Scientific studies

The main research topics of the NRL “Hepatitis viruses” are:

• Genotype distribution of HCV and HBV in patients with acute or chronic infection, in general population and in risk groups, such as intravenous drug users.
• Development of post vaccinated anti-HBV response.
• Distribution and role of HEV infection among non-A non-C viral hepatitis.

Important publications

1. Golkocheva-Markova E, Ismailova C, Kevorkyan A, Raycheva R, Zhelyazkova S, Kotsev S, Pishmisheva M, Rangelova V, Stoyanova A, Yoncheva V, Tenev T, Gladnishka T, Trifonova I, Christova I, Dimitrov R, Bruni R, Ciccaglione AR. Age and Gender Trends in the Prevalence of Markers for Hepatitis E Virus Exposure in the Heterogeneous Bulgarian Population. Life. 2023; 13(6):1345. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13061345, SJR (2022) 0.63, IF (2022) 3.253, Q
2. Kevorkyan A, Golkocheva-Markova E, Raycheva R, et al. Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection among Hemodialysis Patients from Southern Bulgaria. Pathogens. 2023;12(10):1208. Published 2023 Sep 30. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12101208, SJR (2022) 0.81, IF (2022) 3.7, Q2
3. Kotsev S, Pishmisheva-Peleva M, Golkocheva-Markova E, Ismailova C, Vatev N (2023) Clinical Course and Outcome of Acute Hepatitis E Infection in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C. J Clin Infect Dis Pract, 8: 171.
4. Komitova RT, Kevorkyan A, Vasilev P, Golgocheva-Markova E, Atanasova M. When two viruses collide: coronavirus disease after hepatitis B virus reactivation. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2023;65(2):343-347. https://doi.org/10.3897/folmed.65.e79869
5. Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova, Ani Kevorkyan, Ralitsa Raycheva, Chiydem Ismailova, Viliana Yoncheva, Tencho Tenev, Radoslava Emilova, Lyubomira Grigorova, Ivan Baltadzhiev, Radka Komitova. Assessment of Hepatitis E positivity among HIV-infected patients in Bulgaria. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2022; 26 (1):102329, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjid.2022.102329; IF (2021) 3.257, Q3, SJR 0.67https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85141616654&doi=10.3390%2fbiom12111543&partnerID=40&md5=3c289
6. Romaní Vidal Adriana, Vaughan Aisling, Innocenti Francesco, Colombe Soledad, Nerlander Lina, Rachwal Natalia, Ciancio Bruno Christian, Mougkou Aikaterini, Carvalho Carlos, Delgado Enrique, Mook Piers, de Muylder Géraldine, Peeters Michael, Tenev Tencho, Golkocheva-Markova Elitsa, Vorobieva Solholm Jensen Veronika, Koch Anders, Figoni Julie, Brouard Cécile, Nikolopoulou Georgia, Zisouli Anastasia, Murphy Niamh, Broderick Annemarie, Goldberg Lital, Rich Rivka, Hecht Sagie Lior, Tosti Maria Elena, Suligoi Barbara, Joosten Rosa, Pijnacker Roan, Fjeldheim Ingvild, Heen Eli, Stępień Małgorzata, Polański Piotr, Tato Marinho Rui, Vieira Martins João, Varela Carmen, Avellón Ana, Andersson Emmi, Jansson Mörk Marie, Mandal Sema, Watson Conall, Coughlan Laura, Chand Meera, Neill Claire, Bradley Declan T, Li Kathy, O’Leary Maureen, McInnes Neil, Williams Christopher J, Moore Catherine, Gjini Ardiana, Duffell Erika, Pebody Richard. Hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children – epidemiological overview of cases reported in Europe, 1 January to 16 June 2022. Euro Surveill. 2022;27(31):pii=2200483. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.31.2200483; IF (2021) 21.286, Q1, SJR 4.42https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85135422163&doi=10.2807%2f1560-7917.ES.2022.27.31.2200483&partn
7. Golkocheva-Markova E. Micro RNAs—The Small Big Players in Hepatitis E Virus Infection: A Comprehensive Review. Biomolecules. 2022; 12(11):1543. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12111543; IF (2021) 6.064, Q2, SJR 1.02https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85125142044&doi=10.1016%2fj.bjid.2022.102329&partnerID=40&md5=5
8. Chiydem Ismailova, Vlilana Yontcheva, Tencho Tenev, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova. Correlation between the antibody response toward specific HCV proteins and HCV viral load. Probl Inf Parasit Dis.,2021, 49(1), 13-18.

9. Komitova R, Kevorkyan A, Golkocheva-Markova E, Atanasova M, Boykinova O. Acute liver failure associated with hepatitis E infection in a young man with immune thrombocytopenia. J of IMAB. 2021 Jul-Sep;27(3):3901-3904. DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2021273.3901.
10. Sperle, I., Nielsen, S., Gassowski, M., Naneva Z., Perchemlieva, T., Amato‑Gauci, A., Heiden, M., Bremer, V., Golkocheva‑Markova, E., Hristov, K., Kaneva, E., Simeonova, Y., Tenev, T., Varleva, T., Duffell, E., R. Zimmermann. Prevalence of hepatitis C in the adult population of Bulgaria: a pilot study. BMC Res Notes 13, 326 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-020-05158-3IF 1.340; Q2
11. Ivailo Alexiev, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova, Asya Kostadinova, Reneta Dimitrova, Lora Nikolova, Anna Gancheva, Tencho Tenev, Ivaylo Elenkov, Tatiana Tcherveniakova, Nina Yancheva, Mariyana Stoycheva, Tsetsa Doychinova, Lilia Pekova, Marina Alexandrova. The prevalence of hepatitis B and C co-infections among people with HIV-1 in Bulgaria: 2010–2015, Future Virology Published Online: 30 Jan 2020 https://doi.org/10.2217/fvl-2019-0092 IF 0.730.
12. Ivanov, D., Tenev, T., Golkocheva-Markova, E. Prevalence of antiA-HBc in HBsAg-negative population: Screening of patients with unspecified acute hepatitis and review of the literature. Probl Inf Parasit Dis.,2020, 48(1), 33-38.
13. Zhelyazkova-Glaveeva, S., E. Golkocheva-Markova, A. Kevorkyan, T. Tenev, E. Shikova, I. Tournev. Serological and molecular genetic studies on the involvement of hepatitis E virus in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. 6th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology, Virtual 2020 (ePoster In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, 2020; vol. 27 (S1), pp. 1187-1187).
14. Eleonora Cella, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova, Caterina Sagnelli, Vittoria Scolamacchia, Roberto Bruni, Umbertina Villano, Anna Rita Ciccaglione, Michele Equestre, Evangelista Sagnelli, Silvia Angeletti, Massimo Ciccozzi. Human hepatitis E virus circulation in Bulgaria: Deep Bayesian phylogenetic analysis for viral spread control in the country. J Med Virol., 2019; 91 (1): 132-138. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25296.IF 1.988
15. Ganova-Raeva L, Dimitrova Z, Alexiev I, Punkova L, Sue A, Xia G-l, Gancheva A, Dimitrova R, Kostadinova A, Golkocheva-Markova E, Y Khudyakov. HCV transmission in high-risk communities in Bulgaria. PLoS ONE., 2019; 14(3): e0212350. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212350.IF: 2.766
16. Komitova R, Kevorkyan A, Atanasova M, Ivanova A, Golkocheva-Markova E. Booster immunity – diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B viral infection. J Infect Dev Ctries., 2019,13 (3):255-260. IF (2017) 1.353
17. Stefka Krumova, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova, Svetla Angelova, Silviya Voleva, Adelina Pavlovae, Irina Georgievaf, Petia Genova-Kalo. Dried Blood Spots as a Clinical Samples for Laboratory Diagnosis and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Bulgaria. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS). 2019; 51 (1): 183-191.
18. Chiydem B. Ismailova, Elitsa N. Golkocheva-Markova, Tencho D. Tenev, Stefka I. Krumova. The use of dry blood spots into a measurement of immunity against HBV: the significance of antibody dilution. Probl Inf Parasit Dis., 2019; 47 (1): 16-20.
19. Eleonora Cella, Elitsa N. Golkocheva-Markova, Diljana Trandeva-Bankova, Giulia Gregori, Roberto Bruni, Stefania Taffon, Michele Equestre, Angela Costantino, Silvia Spoto, Melissa Curtis, Anna Rita Ciccaglione, Massimo Ciccozzi, Silvia Angeletti. The genetic diversity of hepatitis A genotype I in Bulgaria. Medicine., 2018; 7:3(e9632). IF: 2.028

20. Bruni R, Villano U, Equestre M, Chionne P, Madonna E, Trandeva-Bankova D, Peleva-Pishmisheva M, Tenev T, Cella E, Ciccozzi M, Pisani G, Golkocheva-Markova E, Ciccaglione AR. Hepatitis E virus genotypes and subgenotypes causing acute hepatitis, Bulgaria, 2013–2015. PLoS ONE. 2018, 13 (6): e0198045. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198045IF: 2.766
21. Pishmisheva M., Baymakova M., Golkocheva-Markova E., Kundurzhiev T., Pepovich R., Popov G.T., I. Tsachev. First serological study of hepatitis E virus infection in pigs in Bulgaria. C. R. Acad. Bulg.Sci., 2018; 71 (7): 1001-1008. IF 0.270
22. Golkocheva-Markova EN, Peleva-Pishmisheva M, Bruni R, Villano U, Pisani G, Equestre M, Kevorkyan A, Ciccozzi M, A.R. Ciccaglione. Following a patient with prolonged response against hepatitis E virus. Panminerva Med., 2018; 60 (4): 000-000. DOI: 10.23736/S0031-0808.18.03457-2 [approved for publication]. IF 2.102
23. Tsaneva-Damyanova D, Golkocheva-Markova E, Ivanova L, Kostadinova T, Stoykova Z. Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Patients with Liver Dysfunction in Varna, Bulgaria. J of IMAB. 2018 Oct-Dec; 24 (4): 2196-2200. DOI:10.5272/jimab.2018244.2196