Association between SEN virus infection and hepatitis C in Japan.
There is a strong association between 2 SEN virus (SENV) variants (SENV-D and SENV-H) and transfusion-associated non-A-E hepatitis. In total, 200 subjects from a Japanese region where hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly endemic and 194 persons from a contiguous area where HCV is not endemic were tested for SENV-D and SENV-H DNA by polymerase chain reaction. SENV DNA was detected equally in subjects from each area (56% prevalence in the area of high endemicity vs. 61% in the nonendemic area). Age-specific prevalence of SENV was similar to that of TT virus, with equal distribution at all ages in both areas; HCV was predominant in the elderly population. Alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly associated with HCV viremia but not with SENV viremia. SENV is a common infection that appears to have transmission routes and age-related prevalence that are distinct from those of HCV. No evidence was found that SENV caused hepatitis or worsened the course of hepatitis C.
Umemura
T
T
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan. tumemura@mail.cc.nih.gov
Alter
H J
HJ
Tanaka
E
E
Yeo
A E
AE
Shih
J W
JW
Orii
K
K
Matsumoto
A
A
Yoshizawa
K
K
Kiyosawa
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014766:Viremia
D004279:DNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase