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Prevalence and Genotypes of GB Virus C/Hepatitis G Virus among Blood Donors in Central Brazil
Luciana A Oliveira; Regina MB Martins; Megmar AS Carneiro; Sheila A Teles; Simonne A Silva; Divina DP Cardoso; Elisabeth Lampe & Clara FT Yoshida
Abstract
A survey was conducted in a blood donor population of Central
Brazil aiming to investigate the prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G
virus (HGV) infection and also to analyze the virus genotypes distribution. A
total of 241 voluntary blood donors were interviewed at the State Blood Bank in
Goiânia, State of Goiás, Brazil. Blood samples were collected and serum
samples tested for GBV-C/HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Genotypes were
determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Seventeen
samples were GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive, resulting in a prevalence of 7.1% (95% CI:
4.2-11.1). A significant trend of GBV-C/HGV RNA positivity in relation to age
was observed, with the highest prevalence in donors between 29-39 years old. Ten
infected individuals were characterized by reporting parenteral (30%), sexual
(18%), both (6%) and intrafamiliar (6%) transmission. However, 7 (40%) GBV-C/HGV
RNA-positive donors did not mention any potential transmission route. RFLP analysis
revealed the presence of genotypes 1 and 2 of GBV-C/HGV; more precisely, 10 (58.9%)
samples were found belonging to the 2b subtype, 4 (23.5%) to the 2a subtype, and
3 (17.6%) to genotype 1. The present data indicate an intermediate endemicity
of GBV-C/HGV infection among this blood donor population, and a predominant circulation
of genotype 2 (subtype 2b) in Central Brazil.
Keywords
hepatitis G virus - GB virus C - blood donors - Goiânia - Central Brazil
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