title: GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in Indian blood donors and high-risk groups.
abstract: The hepatitis G virus (HGV) or GB virus C (GBV-C) was discovered in 1995 as a putative agent of post-transfusion, non-A-E hepatitis. The present study was carried out with the aim to find the prevalence of this virus among various subject groups at risk for parenteral transmission as well as in healthy control subjects both individually and along with other parenterally transmitted hepatitis viruses. Of the 402 subjects tested, 6.22% were positive for the HBsAg surface antigen, 7.21% were positive for HCV RNA while only 2.24% were seen to be carriers of the HGV/GBV-C RNA. All the HGV/GBV-C positive cases were either multi-transfused thalassaemic subjects or hemodialysis patients. None of the healthy control subjects showed presence of the virus. Seven of the HGV/GBV-C positive subjects showed co-infection with one or more additional virological markers. Also, of the 9 HGV/GBV-C positive subjects, 5 showed elevated ALT levels while 4 showed elevated alkaline phosphatase levels. Overall our findings seem to indicate that HGV infections generally are asymptomatic, transient and self-limiting and the virus does not seem to show a very high prevalence among the Indian population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Medical Research Society, Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Hospital and Research Centre, Raja Rammohan Roy Road, Mumbai 400004, India. desaimayura@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mayura M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Ramprasad B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Dushyant D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Banker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D029407:GB virus C / Q000378:metabolism*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000737:chemistry*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012306:Risk; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012313:RNA; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase