Seroprevalence of GB virus C and persistence of RNA and antibody.
Exposure to GB virus C (GBV-C) was determined in several U.S. populations by both reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to mammalian cell-expressed GBV-C envelope protein, E2 (GBV-C E2). Most individuals exposed to GBV-C were either RNA positive/ELISA negative or ELISA positive/RNA negative. Exposure, therefore, was measured as the sum of GBV-C RNA positive and GBV-C E2 antibody positive specimens, and was higher in commercial plasmapheresis donors (40.5%) than in volunteer blood donors (5.5%). In intravenous drug users (IVDUs), GBV-C exposure was 89.2%. Serial bleed specimens tested for GBV-C RNA indicate that some patients remain viremic for at least 3 years and fail to produce detectable antibodies to GBV-C E2. In other exposed individuals who tested negative for GBV-C RNA, antibodies to E2 appear to be similarly long-lived (greater than 3 years) with a fairly constant titer (ranging in reciprocal endpoint dilution from 336 to 21,504). Since the detection of GBV-C RNA and GBV-C E2 antibody are mutually exclusive in most exposed individuals, studies pertaining to incidence and prevalence of GBV-C infection require both antibody and nucleic acid detection.
Gutierrez
R A
RA
Virus Discovery Group, Abbott Diagnostics Division, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, USA.
Dawson
G J
GJ
Knigge
M F
MF
Melvin
S L
SL
Heynen
C A
CA
Kyrk
C R
CR
Young
C E
CE
Carrick
R J
RJ
Schlauder
G G
GG
Surowy
T K
TK
Dille
B J
BJ
Coleman
P F
PF
Thiele
D L
DL
Lentino
J R
JR
Pachucki
C
C
Mushahwar
I K
IK
D000208:Acute Disease; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D010949:Plasma; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral