Antibodies to the E2 protein of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus: prevalence and risk factors in different populations in Italy.
BACKGROUND
Many aspects of the epidemiology of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C) infection have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of GBV-C antibodies and risk factors in different subjects living in Italy.


METHODS
A total of 1,005 sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to the of GBV-C E2 protein using a recently developed enzyme immunoassay.


RESULTS
A high prevalence of GBV-C antibodies was found in healthy blood donors (12.6%). Hemodialysis patients and drug users showed higher rates of GBV-C seropositivity (22% and 39%, respectively). Immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia had anti-GBV-C prevalence comparable to that found in Italian blood donors, whereas higher and lower rates were detected in immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean (19.5%) and from Mediterranean Africa (5.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
GBV-C infections are widespread in the general population in Italy and particularly common in risk groups. The different prevalence of GBV-C antibodies detected in third world immigrants is likely to reflect the prevalence in the countries of origin. However, the observation that the length of residency in Italy is a significant risk factor may suggest that at least some GBV-C infections are contracted in Italy.
Dept. of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. pvillari@napoli.peoples.it
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins