title: Lack of association between acquisition of TT virus and risk behavior for HIV and HCV infection in Vietnam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The search for the cause of chronic hepatitis among individuals with non-A to G hepatitis has led to the discovery of a post-transfusion hepatitis-related DNA virus, designated TT virus (TTV), which, based on viral sequences, belongs to a new virus family. The principal modes of infection with TTV are poorly understood, and its role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if injection drug use (IDU) and high-risk heterosexual activity (HRHA), principal modes of acquiring HIV-1 infection, place individuals at greater risk of acquiring TTV.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors analyzed DNA, extracted from sera or filter paper-blotted whole blood, obtained during August 1997 and June 1998 from 324 Vietnamese (148 male; 176 female), for TTV sequences by hot-start, heminested polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of TTV viremia was similar among individuals engaging in IDU or HRHA (23.4% vs. 20.2%; P > 0.5), with no age- or gender-specific differences. No association was found between TTV viremia and co-infection with HIV-1 or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Phylogenetic analysis of 30 TTV sequences revealed two distinct genotypes and four subtypes that did not segregate according to gender, HIV-1 and HCV risk behaviors, or geographic residence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among HIV-1- or HCV-infected Vietnamese, who presumably acquired their infection by either the parenteral or nonparenteral route, the data indicate no clear association between acquisition of TTV infection and risk behavior for HIV-1 or HCV infection, suggesting that the usual route of TTV transmission in Vietnam is other than parenteral or sexual.
authors.affiliation: Retrovirology Research Laboratory, Pacific Biomedical Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816, USA. nerurkar@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Nerurkar
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: DeWolfe Miller
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Tashima
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zalles-Ganley
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Detels
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral