A case-control study of transmission routes for GB virus C/hepatitis G virus in Swedish blood donors lacking markers for hepatitis C virus infection.
OBJECTIVE
The transmission routes for GB virus-C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) in blood donors unexposed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unknown. We performed a case-control study of risk factors for GBV-C/HGV exposure in blood donors.


METHODS
After testing stored sera from 458 HCV-negative blood donors for GBV-C/HGV RNA and GBV-C/HGV E2 antibodies, 66 donors with GBV-C/HGV markers and 125 age- and gender-matched controls were interviewed regarding risk factors for viral transmission.


RESULTS
Exposure to GBV-C/HGV was strongly associated with previous treatment for a sexually transmitted disease (odds ratio [OR] 4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-9.8), with multiple sexual partners (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.4-5.7) and with a past history of endoscopy (OR 7.0; 95% CI 3.0-16.4).


CONCLUSIONS
In blood donors with GBV-C/HGV markers, sexual contacts and medical procedures appear to be the main transmission routes.
Björkman
P
P
Department of Infectious Diseases, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden.
Nauclér
A
A
Winqvist
N
N
Mushahwar
I
I
Widell
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications; D013548:Sweden; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C107619:glycoprotein E2, GB virus C