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.
Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Jun
J
Akiba
Takeji
T
Umemura
Harvey J
HJ
Alter
Masamichi
M
Kojiro
Edward
E
Tabor
D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D022783:Torque teno virus; D065227:Transfusion Reaction