title: Lower hepatitis G virus infection prevalence compared to hepatitis B and C virus infection prevalences.
abstract: To more accurately determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection, we surveyed antibody to HGV (anti-E2) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and HGV RNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 298 residents of a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-endemic area of Japan and in 225 hemodialysis patients. We then compared these findings with known HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prevalences. Anti-E2 and HGV RNA prevalences were 32 (10.7%) and 5 (1.7%) in the residents and 24 (10.7%) and 10 (4.4%) in the hemodialysis patients, respectively. Anti-E2 and HGV RNA concurrence was found in two of the hemodialysis patients. Total HGV marker (anti-E2 and/or HGV RNA) prevalences [37 (12.4%) in residents and 32 (14.2%) in hemodialysis patients], were significantly lower than the prevalences of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) by ELISA [59 (19.8%) and 96 (42.7%)], and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) [87 (29.2%) and 101 (44.9%)] (P<0.05). The anti-HCV prevalence in subjects with total HGV marker was significantly higher than in those without total HGV marker. There was no significant difference in anti-HBc prevalence between those with and without total HGV marker. The viremic rate was highest in HCV infection (HCV RNA by PCR/anti-HCV) (83.2%), with HGV infection (HGV RNA/total HGV marker) (21.7%) intermediate, and HBV infection (hepatitis B surface antigen by RIA/anti-HBc) (5.3%) lowest (P<0.05). These findings indicate that HGV infection was less endemic than HCV and HBV. HGV was eliminated naturally more frequently than HCV infection and less frequently than HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Furusyo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ariyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawayama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Etoh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins