GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in southern China.
The prevalence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) infection among intravenous drug users (IVDUs), patients with liver diseases, and blood donors in Nanning, southern China was studied. GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with primers derived from the 5'-untranslated region. GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected in 64 of 85 IVDUs, 20 of 80 persons with liver disease, and 1 of 50 blood donors. Among IVDUs, GBV-C/HGV infection was associated with antibodies to hepatis C virus (HCV) and with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Eleven nucleotide sequences were determined and analyzed by molecular evolutionary analysis. In a phylogenetic tree, the isolates were grouped in three clusters with GBV-C and HGV grouped in two clusters. These data indicate that GBV-C/HGV infection is common in China among IVDUs but uncommon among persons with liver disease without HBsAg or anti-HCV and that there is a new group of GBV-C/HGV.
Wu
R R
RR
Second Department of Medicine, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan.
Mizokami
M
M
Cao
K
K
Nakano
T
T
Ge
X M
XM
Wang
S S
SS
Orito
E
E
Ohba
K
K
Mukaide
M
M
Hikiji
K
K
Lau
J Y
JY
Iino
S
S
D001782:Blood Donors; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications
D017931:DNA Primers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral