Prevalence of infection with hepatitis G virus among various groups in Thailand.
Two research groups recently and independently, isolated a hepatotropic flavivirus from human sera. The two viruses, named GB virus C and hepatitis G virus (HGV), were subsequently discovered to represent the same virus, which was associated with acute and chronic hepatitis of the non-A-E type. The prevalences of infection with HGV have now been investigated in various groups of the Thai population, some of which [e.g. thalassaemic children, patients with chronic liver disease, carriers of antibodies to hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV), prostitutes and intravenous-drug users (IVDU)] were assumed to be at high risk. Samples of sera were investigated by reverse-transcriptase PCR, using four primers created from the 5' untranslated region of HGV. The prevalence of HGV infection among the healthy controls (1%-5%) was found to be much less than that among thalassaemic children (32.6%), asymptomatic carriers of anti-HCV (20.4%), IVDU (18.2%), aplastic anaemia patients (14.3%) and prostitutes (10%), although similar to that in patients with chronic liver disorders. These results confirm a parenteral route of transmission for HGV and emphasise the need for further research to determine the clinical significance of this virus.
Poovorawan
Y
Y
Paediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. fmedypv@chulkn.car.chula.ac.th
Theamboonlers
A
A
Chongsrisawat
V
V
Jantaradsamee
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications
D012367:RNA, Viral