Heterosexual transmission of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection to non-intravenous drug-using female prostitutes in Fukuoka, Japan.
To determine if GB virus C (GBV-C) or hepatitis G (HGV) infection can be transmitted by heterosexual intercourse, we tested serum samples from 234 non-drug-injecting female prostitutes for GBV-C/HGV. We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to test for GBV-C/HGV RNA and ELISA for GBV-C/HGV-E2 antibody. The prevalence of total GBV-C/HGV marker (GBV-C/HGV RNA and/or GBV-C/HGV-E2 antibody) was 58/234 (24.8%) in the prostitutes, and 7/71 (8.9%) in matched controls. The GBV-C/HGV RNA and GBV-C/HGV-E2 antibody concurrence rate was 12.5% for the prostitutes, but was nil in matched controls. Total GBV-C/HGV marker was significantly higher in the prostitutes than in matched controls. Additionally, total GBV-C/HGV marker was associated with the number of years engaged in prostitution after adjusting for age. We found hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in prostitutes to be associated with syphilis infection, but GBV-C/HGV infection was not. Thus, it seems likely that GBV-C/HGV can be transmitted by heterosexual intercourse, even in the absence of syphilis.
Sawayama
Y
Y
Department of General Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Hayashi
J
J
Etoh
Y
Y
Urabe
H
H
Minami
K
K
Kashiwagi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011477:Sex Work; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
D012367:RNA, Viral