TT virus and hepatitis G virus infections in Korean blood donors and patients with chronic liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalences of TTV and HGV infections among blood donors and patients with chronic liver disease in Korea, to investigate the association of TTV and HGV infections with blood transfusion, and to assess the correlation between TTV and HGV viremia and hepatic damage.


METHODS
A total of 391 serum samples were examined in this study. Samples were obtained from healthy blood donors (n=110), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive donors (n=112), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV)-positive donors (n=69), patients with type B chronic liver disease (n=81), and patients with type C chronic liver disease (n=19). TTV DNA was detected using the hemi-nested PCR. HGV RNA was tested using RT-PCR. A history of blood transfusion and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were also determined.


RESULTS
TTV DNA was detected in 8.2 % of healthy blood donors, 16.1 % of HBsAg-positive donors, 20.3 % of anti-HCV-positive donors, 21.0 % of patients with type B chronic liver disease, and 21.1 % of patients with type C chronic liver disease. HGV RNA was detected in 1.8 % of healthy blood donors, 1.8 % of HBsAg-positive donors, 17.4 % of anti-HCV-positive donors, 13.6 % of patients with type B chronic liver disease, and 10.5 % of patients with type C chronic liver disease. The prevalence of TTV and HGV infections in HBV- or HCV-positive donors and patients was significantly higher than in healthy blood donors (P<0.05), except for the detection rate of HGV in HBsAg-positive donors which was the same as for healthy donors. There was a history of transfusion in 66.7 % of TTV DNA-positive patients and 76.9 % of HGV RNA-positive patients (P<0.05). No significant increase in serum ALT and AST was detected in the TTV- or HGV-positive donors and patients.


CONCLUSIONS
TTV and HGV infections are more frequently found in donors and patients infected with HBV or HCV than in healthy blood donors. However, there is no significant association between TTV or HGV infections and liver injury.
Jeon
Mee Juhng
MJ
Department of Clinical Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School 8 Hak 1 dong, Dong-Ku, Kwangju, Korea.
Shin
Jong Hee
JH
Suh
Soon Pal
SP
Lim
Young Chai
YC
Ryang
Dong Wook
DW
D001782:Blood Donors; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D007723:Korea; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens