Genetic diversity of GBV-C/HGV strains among HIV infected-IVDU and blood donors from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
GBV-C/HGV RNA was investigated in serum samples from 70 HIV(+) intravenous drug users (IVDU), as well as from 200 blood donors from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Viral RNA was demonstrated in 21 IVDU by reverse transcription-nested PCR of the 5' UTR. c-DNA amplified products were analyzed and their sequences compared with those downloaded from GenBank. A phylogenetic tree based on 171 sequences demonstrated the presence of three major genogroups, including two subgroups, within local samples, i.e. group 1 (n=1), 2a (n=11), 2b (n=4) and 3 (n=5). These results agreed entirely with those obtained by a novel RFLP (J. Clin. Microbiol. 37, 1340-1347, 1999) of the same 5' UTR amplicons. As expected, GBV-C/HGV RNA prevalence was significantly higher among IVDU than among blood donors (P<0.0001), although within the latter group an unexpectedly high rate was also detected, since 11 of 200 sera (5.5%) proved positive. These viral isolates were ascribed either to subgroup 2a (n=5), subgroup 2b (n=5) or genogroup 3 (n=1). Briefly, this partial view of GBV-C/HGV molecular epidemiology in Argentina shows: (i) different rates of GBV-C/HGV infection within both IVDU and blood donors; (ii) a high prevalence of viral RNA among blood donors; and (iii) a predominant circulation of genogroup 2, with minor contribution of groups 3 and 1.
Oubiña
J R
JR
Laboratorio de Hepatitis Virales, Departamento Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, (1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina. j_oubina@hotmail.com
Mathet
V
V
Feld
M
M
Della Latta
M P
MP
Ferrario
D
D
Verdun
R
R
Libonatti
O
O
Fernández
J
J
Carballal
G
G
Sánchez
D O
DO
Quarleri
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D001118:Argentina; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005820:Genetic Testing; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C114224:envelope protein E1, GB virus C