[Detection of positive-strand of transfusion transmitted virus fragment in the liver of cryptogenic hepatitis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) replicates in the liver and to analyze the relationship between TTV and cryptogenic hepatitis.


METHODS
A 3.2 kb TTV fragment was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 31 serum samples of patients with cryptogenic hepatitis who came from a school where was in an outbreak area of cryptogenic hepatitis during 1996 and in 30 healthy individuals. A hybridization/nuclease protection assay was used to detect positive-strand TTV fragment from the liver specimens of the 7 patients.


RESULTS
TTV DNA was detected in serum samples from 30 of 31 (96.9%) patients and from 18 of 30 (60%) healthy individuals, respectively. There was significant difference in the prevalence of TTV infection between the two groups. Based on hybridization/ nuclease protection assays, we detected positive-strand TTV fragment in all of 7 liver specimens of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
TTV is related possibly to cryptogenic hepatitis. TTV can replicate in the liver. Although TTV only causes mild liver damage, a few patients will suffer from chronic hepatitis.
Jiang
X
X
Department of Infectious Diseases, Wuhan General Hospital, Guanzhou Command of PLA, Wuhan 430070, China.
He
H
H
Zheng
S
S
Ge
Y
Y
Ren
X
X
Luo
K
K
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D004279:DNA, Viral