Prevalence studies of GB Virus-C infection using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

Among the three recently described GB viruses (GBV-A, GBV-B, and GBV-C), only GBV-C has been linked to cryptogenic hepatitis in man. Because of the limited utility of currently available research tests to determine antibody response to GBV-C proteins, the prevalence of GBV-C RNA in human sera was studied using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The prevalence of GBV-C is higher among volunteer blood donors with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (3.9%) than among volunteer blood donors with normal ALT levels (0.8%). Higher rates were also noted among commercial blood donors (12.9%) and intravenous drug users (16.0%). GBV-C was frequently detected in residents of West Africa, where the prevalence was > 10% in most age groups. Approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with either acute or chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) were found to be positive for GBV-C RNA. In addition, GBV-C RNA sequences were detected in individuals diagnosed with non-A-E hepatitis, with clinical courses ranging from mild disease to fulminant hepatitis. Fourteen of sixteen subjects with or without clinically apparent hepatitis were positive for GBV-C RNA more than 1 year after the initial positive result.

Prevalence and genetic variants of hepatitis GB-C/HG and TT viruses in Gabon, equatorial Africa.

“…12 We found no significant correlation between GBV-C/HGV infection and age or sex. This is consistent with some 38 but not all 27 previous reports. We evaluated GBV-C/HGV infection in pregnant women from urban and semi-rural areas of Gabon and found no significant difference between these two areas.…”

“…ers) 32,33 in the Gabonese population. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV in Gabon is similar to that reported in Ghana, 27 South Africa 28,29 and central Africa. 12 We found no significant correlation between GBV-C/HGV infection and age or sex.…”

“…The route of TTV transmission is also unclear, although there is strong evidence for blood transmission and some studies have suggested a fecal-oral route. 25,26 A few studies have reported a high prevalence of GBV-C/HGV [27][28][29] and TTV infection 30 in sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence of both types of viral infection within a single African geographical area has not been considered, and the modes of transmission of these viruses in Africa have remained elusive.…”

Liposome destabilization induced by synthetic lipopeptides corresponding to envelope and non-structural domains of GBV-C/HGV virus. Conformational requirements for leakage

“…The natural history of GBV-C/HGV infection is at present not fully understood and its potential to cause hepatitis in humans is questionable. Epidemiological studies have indicated that it does not cause acute or chronic hepatitis [1][2][3][4]. In recent years numerous studies have been published in which coinfection with GBV-C/HGV and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been associated with slower progression of the illness and a higher survival rate of patients once AIDS has developed [5][6][7].…”

A previously unrecognized sixth genotype of GB virus C revealed by analysis of 5′‐untranslated region sequences

“…Infection is common in the normal population with up to 12.9% prevalence among paid blood donors in the USA [Dawson et al, 1996], 11%-14% in West Africa or South Africa [Dawson et al, 1996;Casteling et al, 1998], and as high as 37% among HIV-infected individuals [Tillmann and Manns, 2001]. GBV-C has been classified tentatively as a member of the Flaviviridae family due to similarities in genome organization and genetic relatedness [Leary et al, 1996a].…”