title: High prevalence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus genotype 3 among autochthonous Venezuelan populations.
abstract: GB virus C or hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) is highly prevalent among population groups at risk of parenterally transmitted viral agents, but it has also a worldwide distribution in other non-risk population groups. GBV-C/HGV RNA and antibodies against its envelope protein (anti-E2 Abs) were found in 3/86 (3%) and 7/89 (8%) of biomedical science personnel (BSP), in 31/453 (7%) and 37/200 (19%) of blood donors (BD), and in 6/64 (9%) and 26/59 (44%) of hemodialysis patients (HD) from Caracas, Venezuela. A significant gradient of GBV-C/HGV exposure (anti-E2 Abs and/or GBV-C/HGV RNA) was found between BSP (lowest prevalence), BD, and HD (P < 0.001). GBV-C/HGV RNA and anti-E2 Abs were also found in 2/69 (2.9%) and 2/44 (4.5%) of individuals from a rural community, in 9/162 (5.5%) and 2/40 (5%) of West Amerindians, and in 14/56 (25%) and 4/53 (7.5%) of South Amerindians. Socioeconomic and cultural factors may have contributed to the relatively high risk of exposure to GBV-C/HGV in BD and Amerindians. Whereas GBV-C/HGV genotypes 1 (n = 1), 2 (n = 6), and 3 (n = 22) were present in Venezuela, only the Asiatic genotype 3 was found infecting Amerindians and rural populations (n = 16). Genotype assignment based on the 5' noncoding region of the GBV- C/HGV genome was corroborated in some isolates by genetic analysis of the E2 region. This report confirms the circulation of the Asiatic genotype of GBV-C/HGV among Amerindians, suggesting an old origin of GBV-C/HGV. This might be associated with the apparently low pathogenesis of this virus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología de Virus, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, IVIC, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Carmen L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Belkis A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: María G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Uzcátegui
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: Arlette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Saéz
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liprandi
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Flor H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Pujol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012424:Rural Population; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014505:Urban Population; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral