The prevalence of SEN virus infection in blood donors in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of SENV infections among blood donors in central Taiwan and to clarify the relationship between these infections and elevated alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) values.


METHODS
DNA was extracted from plasma of 200 blood donors and amplified by seminested PCR.


RESULTS
For all donors, the prevalence of SENV-D was 32%, and of SENV-H was 30.5%. Prevalence of mixed SENV-D/H infection was 11.5% and of SENV-D and/or SENV-H (SENV-D/H) was 51%. Infections were not associated with age, gender, or raised ALT values.


CONCLUSIONS
SENV-D and SENV-H infections are common among blood donors in central Taiwan but are unlikely to contribute to abnormal ALT values.
Huang
Lan-Ru
LR
Department of Medical Technology, Chungtai Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. lrhuang@chtai.ctc.edu.tw
Wang
Hsuan-Hui
HH
Lin
Wei-Shun
WS
Lin
Chi-Ling
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D004279:DNA, Viral