title: Antibodies reacting with Simian virus 40 mimotopes in serum samples from patients with thalassaemia major.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a small DNA tumour virus. Footprints of the virus have been detected in different humam lymphoproliferative disorders and in blood specimens of blood from healthy blood donors. This study was carried out to verify whether SV40 antibodies can be detected in serum samples from multiply transfused patients with thalassaemia major.
  
  
  METHODS
  An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed, using SV40 specific synthetic peptides mimicking the antigens of the viral capsid proteins 1-2-3, to test for the presence of antibodies to SV40 in serum samples taken from patients affected by transfusion-dependent thalassaemia major (n=190) and healthy blood donors (n=251).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of antibodies against SV40 was higher in patients than in controls (24% vs 17%). The prevalence increased and was significantly higher in the older age group of patients affected by thalassemia major than in controls (38% vs 20%, p<0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher prevalence of serum antibodies against simian virus 40 in older, multiply transfused patients with thalassamia major than in controls suggests that this virus, or a closely related yet unknown human polyomavirus, could have been transmitted in the past by transfusion with whole blood. At the same time, our data indicate no significant differences in prevalence of SV40 antibodies in patients and controls of younger age thus suggesting that current transfusion methods with leucodepletion and filtered red cells are safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Paediatric Section, University of Ferrara and University Hospital Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borgna-Pignatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine; Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences; Section of Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Felletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Paediatric Section, University of Ferrara and University Hospital Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turlà
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Paediatric Section, University of Ferrara and University Hospital Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malaventura
authors.affiliation: University of Milan, Ca' Granda Foundation IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Domenica
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cappellini
authors.affiliation: Thalassaemia Unit, Sant'Eugenio Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cianciulli
authors.affiliation: Haematology-The Microcythemia Centre, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Forni
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine; Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corallini
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine; Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine; Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tognon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000276:immunology*; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral