title: Detection and molecular characterization of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) in Uruguay.
abstract: Torque Teno Virus (TTV), member of Anelloviridae family, is considered a worldwide distributed emergent virus and is currently classified into seven genogroups. Interestingly, the pathogenicity of TTV remains unclear. However, it has been constantly associated to hepatitis cases of unknown etiology (HUE) as well as extensively studied in concurrent infections with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1). In South America, TTV epidemiological data is scant, involving some studies from Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia. The aim of this work was to investigate for the first time in Uruguay the presence of TTV by a nested-PCR system in 85 human serum samples infected with HBV and/or HCV and/or HIV-1 and in HUE cases. Overall, our results reported a TTV infection rate of 79% (67/85). Furthermore, the molecular characterization of Uruguayan strains revealed that one of them clustered in genogroup 1, while the remaining ones formed separate clusters closely related to genogroup 3, which should be confirmed by complete genome sequencing. Further investigation about TTV circulation in Uruguayan population is needed in order to provide additional information about the genetic variability and TTV epidemiology in South America.
authors: Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Florencia
authors: F
authors: Cancela
authors: Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Ramos
authors: Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Mirazo
authors: Servicio de Hepatología, Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas, Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Avenida 8 de Octubre 3060, 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Mainardi
authors: Servicio de Hepatología, Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas, Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Avenida 8 de Octubre 3060, 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Solange
authors: S
authors: Gerona
authors: Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: jarbiza@fcien.edu.uy.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Arbiza
mesh_terms: D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D014583:Uruguay / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Detection; Molecular characterization; Torque Teno Virus; Uruguay