title: Hepatitis C virus in saliva of haemophiliac patients attending an oral surgery unit.
abstract: This study determined the frequency with which hepatitis C virus (HCV) could be detected in the saliva of 21 HCV-seropositive haemophiliac patients attending an Oral Surgery Unit. All sera were positive for HCV RNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Six of the patients were also HIV antibody positive. Saliva was collected both by spitting into a Universal container (whole saliva), and by means of Salivettes. Following RNA extraction from saliva specimens and synthesis of cDNA, nested PCR was performed. Amplified DNA was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. Overall, HCV was detected in saliva from 10 of the subjects (8 HIV seronegative and 2 HIV seropositive) but there was not complete concordance between the Salivette specimens and normal whole saliva. Analysis of pellet and supernate fractions from whole saliva produced similar discrepancies. Repeat runs of PCR for HCV following freezing and thawing of the initially positive saliva specimens were unsuccessful. It was concluded that HCV is present in the saliva of some haemophiliac patients. However, careful optimisation of sample handling and storage methods and of PCR technique are required before the true prevalence of HCV shedding in saliva can be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, University of Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bagg
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Follett
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004996:Ethidium; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005615:Freezing; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000821:virology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D004996:Ethidium