Seroprevalence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus-RNA and anti-envelope antibody in high-risk populations in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
GB Virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) was identified in 1995-1996 as a transfusion-transmissible virus. The diagnosis of GBV-C/HGV infection is based on the detection of GBV-C/HGV-RNA by using polymerase chain reaction. Recently, an enzyme immunoassay detecting the antibodies to the viral protein, E2 envelope protein (anti-envelope) of GBV-C/HGV, has been developed.


METHODS
Serum GBV-C/HGV-RNA and anti-envelope antibody were determined in 76 cases of intravenous drug users (IVDU), 76 patients with regular hemodialysis and in 80 prostitutes to evaluate the GBV-C/HGV infection rate among high-risk populations in Taiwan. Seventy-six healthy blood donors were randomly selected and were used as a control group.


RESULTS
The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV-RNA in high-risk populations was 33% for IVDU, 16% for patients with hemodialysis and 13% for prostitutes, which was significantly higher than the 3% obtained in the control group (P < 0.05 for all groups). The prevalence of anti-envelope antibody was 13% for IVDU, 21% for patients with hemodialysis and 23% for prostitutes, which was not significantly different from the control group (11%). Among the 99 subjects who had positive GBV-C/HGV markers, 97 were tested for exclusive positivity for either GBV-C/HGV-RNA or anti-envelope antibody.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of serum anti-envelope antibody usually indicates the clearance of serum GBV-C/HGV-RNA in patients infected with GBV-C/HGV. GBVirus-C/HGV infection in high-risk populations, determined by the presence of serum GBV-C/HGV-RNA, may underestimate the true level of past and present infection.
Hwang
S J
SJ
Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
Chu
C W
CW
Lu
R H
RH
Lan
K H
KH
Wu
J C
JC
Wang
Y J
YJ
Chang
F Y
FY
Lee
S D
SD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001483:Base Sequence; D001782:Blood Donors; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D013624:Taiwan; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins