GB virus C/hepatitis G virus.
GB virus C (GBV-C), or hepatitis G virus (HGV), is a recently discovered enveloped RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. GBV-C/HGV is transmitted by contaminated blood and/or blood products, intravenous drug use, from mother to child, sexually, and possibly through close social contacts. Several reports indicate a high prevalence of GBV-C/HGV viremia (1-4%) within healthy populations in Europe and North America, and an even higher prevalence (10-33%) among residents in South America and Africa. GBV-C/HGV has been suggested to be a causative agent for non-A-non-E hepatitis. However, several contradictory observations suggest that its ability to cause hepatitis is questionable. Taken together most data suggest that GBV-C/HGV is not a major cause of liver disease despite recent data indicating that it may infect and replicate in hepatocytes.
Halasz
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R
Division of Clinical Virology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
Weiland
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O
Sällberg
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M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D029407:GB virus C / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology