SEN virus: epidemiology and characteristics of a transfusion-transmitted virus.
SEN virus (SEN-V) is a blood-borne, single-stranded, nonenveloped DNA virus. Although its prevalence varies by geographic region, it has been detected in as many as 30 percent of postoperative transfusion recipients, compared to 3 percent of postoperative patients who did not receive transfusions. A significant association has been observed between transfusion volume and the occurrence of SEN-V infection. Transmission by transfusion also has been confirmed by the detection of greater than 99 percent homology between SEN-V in donor and recipient sera. Concurrent infections with SEN-V and hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or human immunodeficiency virus type 1 have been documented, and these observations probably reflect the blood-borne transmission of these viruses as well as SEN-V. Although SEN-V was discovered as part of a search for causes of posttransfusion hepatitis, there is no firm evidence so far that SEN-V infection either causes hepatitis or worsens the course of coexistent liver disease. Nevertheless, SEN-V appears to be transmitted by transfusion, and further studies may reveal more about its role in the future.
Akiba
Jun
J
Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Umemura
Takeji
T
Alter
Harvey J
HJ
Kojiro
Masamichi
M
Tabor
Edward
E
D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D022783:Torque teno virus; D065227:Transfusion Reaction