title: Prevalence and genotypes of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus among blood donors in Central Brazil.
abstract: A survey was conducted in a blood donor population of Central Brazil aiming to investigate the prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection and also to analyze the virus genotypes distribution. A total of 241 voluntary blood donors were interviewed at the State Blood Bank in Goiânia, State of Goiás, Brazil. Blood samples were collected and serum samples tested for GBV-C/HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Seventeen samples were GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive, resulting in a prevalence of 7.1% (95% CI: 4.2-11.1). A significant trend of GBV-C/HGV RNA positivity in relation to age was observed, with the highest prevalence in donors between 29-39 years old. Ten infected individuals were characterized by reporting parenteral (30%), sexual (18%), both (6%) and intrafamiliar (6%) transmission. However, 7 (40%) GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive donors did not mention any potential transmission route. RFLP analysis revealed the presence of genotypes 1 and 2 of GBV-C/HGV; more precisely, 10 (58.9%) samples were found belonging to the 2b subtype, 4 (23.5%) to the 2a subtype, and 3 (17.6%) to genotype 1. The present data indicate an intermediate endemicity of GBV-C/HGV infection among this blood donor population, and a predominant circulation of genotype 2 (subtype 2b) in Central Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-050, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luciana A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Regina M B
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Megmar A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.forename: Simonne A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Divina D P
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: Clara F T
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral