title: Dynamics of SEN virus infection among injection drug users.
abstract: SEN virus (SENV) is a recently discovered group of DNA viruses whose members (SENV-D and SENV-H) are linked to posttransfusion hepatitis. Of 397 injection drug users (IDUs) in Baltimore, Maryland, SENV-D infection was detected by polymerase chain reaction in serum samples from 130 (32.7%) and SENV-H infection in 149 (37.5%). Of 41 IDUs in whom SENV-D DNA was initially detected, retesting for viral persistence a median of 9.3 years later detected SENV-D in 25 (61.0%), whereas SENV-H was detected on retesting in only 14 (26.9%) of 52 IDUs in whom the virus was originally found. Reinfection was apparent (>5% nucleotide difference) in 77.8% of IDUs who repeatedly tested positive for SENV-D DNA and in 55.6% of those who repeatedly tested positive for SENV-H DNA. Among Baltimore IDUs, SENV-D and SENV-H infections are common and dynamic, including both viral clearance and reinfection. The clinical significance of SENV infection in this setting remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231-1001, USA. lwilsond@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umemura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Astemborski
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlahov
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral