Distinct prevalence of antibodies to the E2 protein of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus in different parts of the world.
Since the identification of the new human virus, GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G-virus (HGV), in 1995/1996, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction remained the sole available diagnostic tool for GBV-C/HGV infection. Recently, a serologic test based on the detection of antibodies to the putative envelope protein 2 (anti-E2) has been introduced. We used this assay for a seroepidemiological survey including 3,314 healthy individuals from different parts of the world, 123 patients from Germany who were suspected to have an increased risk of acquiring GBV-C/HGV infection, 128 multiple organ donors, and 90 GBV-C/HGV RNA positive persons. In European countries, anti-E2 seropositivity ranged from 10.9% (Germany) to 15.3% (Austria). In South Africa (20.3%) and Brazil (19.5%), even higher anti-E2 prevalence rates were recorded. In Asian countries like Bhutan (3.9%), Malaysia (6.3%), and the Philippines (2.7%), anti-E2 positivity was significantly lower. GBV-C/HGV anti-E2 prevalence in potential "risk groups," i.e., patients on hemodialysis and renal transplant recipients, did not vary significantly from anti-E2 seroprevalence in German blood donors. Anti-E2 and GBV-C/HGV RNA were found to be mutually exclusive, confirming the notion that anti-E2 has to be considered as a marker of past infection.
Ross
R S
RS
Institute of Virology, University of Essen, Germany.
Viazov
S
S
Schmitt
U
U
Schmolke
S
S
Tacke
M
M
Ofenloch-Haehnle
B
B
Holtmann
M
M
Müller
N
N
Da Villa
G
G
Yoshida
C F
CF
Oliveira
J M
JM
Szabo
A
A
Paladi
N
N
Kruppenbacher
J P
JP
Philipp
T
T
Roggendorf
M
M
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001631:Bhutan / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins