title: Prevalence and assessment of role of SEN virus in acute and chronic hepatitis in India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  SEN virus (SENV), is a recently discovered single-stranded DNA virus of Annelloviridae family and is believed may play a role in non A-E hepatitis. We conducted this study to identify the prevalence and clinical association of SENV with acute and chronic hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  135 liver disease patients were studied. Extent of liver damage was assessed using the Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. A-E viruses and HIV were detected by enzyme immunoassay. Nested PCR was performed for detection of SENV and its genotypes D and H.
  
  
  RESULTS
  34 cases (25.18%) were positive for SEN virus DNA, a statistically significant finding (p < 0.01) of which 22 (64%) had acute viral hepatitis, 4 (11.76%) had chronic viral hepatitis, 3 (8.82%) fulminant hepatic failure and 5 (14.70%) cirrhosis. Mean AST was 47.85 IU/L, ALT 51.2 IU/L and INR 1.73, mean MELD score was 18.38 (11 to 24). 17.64% had severely deranged MELD score. SENV-D genotype was detected in 13 (38%) and SENV-H in 19 (58%) cases. SENV-H occurred in both acute (53%) and chronic hepatitis (47%). SENV-D was strongly associated with acute hepatitis (85%). Cirrhotic and FHF cases were SENV-H positive. 12 (44.11%) were co-infected with HBV, 5 (14.7%) with TTV, 4(11.76%) with HEV, 2 (5.88%) with HCV and 5 (14.4%) with HIV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant prevalence of SENV in hepatitis patients was observed. On the basis of clinical findings and abnormal liver function tests, we conclude that SENV appears to be not only hepatotropic but also capable of liver damage. Higher prevalence of SENV-H in cirrhotics may point to its possible role in the development of cirrhosis.
authors.forename: Meher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: Shafquat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jahan
authors.forename: Mohd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azam
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ajmal
authors.forename: Indu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: Abida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Asfia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sultan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*