Prevalence and risk factor analysis of GBV-C/HGV infection in prostitutes.
GB virus-C (GBV-C) and Hepatitis G virus (HGV) are variants of a recently cloned virus transmitted parenterally. It is unclear if sexual contact also transmits this virus. In this study, we detected serum GBV-C/HGV RNA in 140 prostitutes by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using different primers. Thirty (21%) were found with GBV-C RNA by nested PCR although only 22 (73%) had HGV RNA by single round RT-PCR. Both assays had a nearly perfect agreement (kappa value, 0.812). The prevalence of GBV-C RNA in prostitutes was significantly higher than the control group (30/140 vs. 2/40, P < 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that a frequency of paid sex more than 120 times per month was the only factor significantly associated with positive GBV-C RNA in prostitutes (P < 0.003). In summary, prostitutes are a high risk group and reservoir of GBV-C/HGV infection due to high frequency of paid-sex.
Wu
J C
JC
Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Sheng
W Y
WY
Huang
Y H
YH
Hwang
S J
SJ
Lee
S D
SD
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000737:chemistry; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013624:Taiwan; D013653:Tattooing
D012367:RNA, Viral