Prevalence of GBV-C/hepatitis G virus RNA and E2 antibody among subjects infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 after parenteral or sexual exposure.
GB virus C (GBV-C) or hepatitis G virus (HGV) is transmitted by the parenteral route but the importance of sexual transmission needs to be ascertained. GBV-C/HGV infections were investigated using RNA and E2-antibody detection methods in 80 subjects infected by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) divided into 4 groups of 20 individuals each according to their main risk factor for HIV-1 infection: blood product recipients (group 1), intravenous drug users (group 2), homosexuals (group 3), or heterosexual exposure (group 4). The overall prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection was 66.3%. No significant difference was observed in GBV-C/ HGV prevalence among the four groups: 75, 75, 55, and 60% in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, used as a control for parenteral exposure, were found in 70% and 90% of the subjects in groups 1 and 2 versus only 15% and 20% of the subjects in groups 3 and 4, respectively (P< .001). Similarly, coinfections with GBV-C/HGV and HCV were significantly associated with the parenteral route (P <.001). These data emphasized the usefulness of combining the detection of RNA and the E2 antibody to determine the actual prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection. The high prevalence of the GBV-C/HGV markers among the HIV-1-infected subjects, especially those with sexual exposure, provides additional evidence that this route of transmission plays a key role in the epidemiology of GBV-C/HGV. The potential influence of GBV-C/HGV infection on the course of HIV-1 disease needs further evaluation.
Bourlet
T
T
Groupe Immunité des Muqueuses et Agents Pathogénes, University of Saint-Etienne, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, France.
Guglielminotti
C
C
Evrard
M
M
Berthelot
P
P
Grattard
F
F
Frésard
A
A
Lucht
F R
FR
Pozzetto
B
B
D000328:Adult; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000635:transmission; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C107619:glycoprotein E2, GB virus C; C118139:p58 protein, classical swine fever virus