Prevalence and genetic variants of hepatitis GB-C/HG and TT viruses in Gabon, equatorial Africa.

Abstract

The distribution of Hepatitis GB-C/HG (GB-C/HG) and TT viruses (TTV) infections was investigated in selected populations from Gabon using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for anti-Envelop 2 (anti-E2) GBV-C/HGV antibodies. Among pregnant women, 29 of 229 (12.6%) were Hepatitis GB virus-C and Hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) RNA positive (+) and 32 of 81 (39.5%) anti-E2 + versus 8 of 39 (20.5%) TTV DNA +. Among sickle cell anemia patients, 9.7% (3/31) were GBV-C/HGV RNA + versus 22.5% (7/31) TTV DNA +. For tuberculosis patients, the figures were 11.5% (4/35) and 0%. A study of hepatocellular carcinoma cases (n = 27) versus controls (n = 66) did not show significant differences for GBV-C/HGV RNA (10.7% versus 12.1%) and TTV DNA (44.4% versus 30.3%). According to phylogenetic analysis, the 15 GBV-C/HGV strains investigated clustered in group 1, the most common in sub-Saharan Africa whereas TTV sequences (n = 4) mostly clustered in genotypes G1 and one close to genotype G3. In the Gabonese populations investigated, GBV-C/HGV and TTV infections were highly endemic. These data are consistent with the low pathogenicity of these agents.

• Authors: R Tuveri, J L Perret, E Delaporte, C Nguemby-Mbina, L R D'Allones, D Henzel, D Faivre, B Scarpa, P Contu, M Colombo, V Thiers, C Bréchot, B Larouze
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) 2000 Sep-Oct Vol. 63 Issue 3-4 Pg. 192-8 ISSN: 0002-9637 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11388514 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• RNA, Viral
• Viral Envelope Proteins
• glycoprotein E2, GB virus C

Topics

• Adult
• Anemia, Sickle Cell (virology)
• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Blood Transfusion
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (virology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Child, Preschool
• DNA Virus Infections (epidemiology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Flaviviridae (classification, genetics, immunology)
• Gabon (epidemiology)
• Hepatitis, Viral, Human (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (virology)
• Male
• Phylogeny
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Infectious (epidemiology, virology)
• Prevalence
• RNA, Viral (blood)
• Torque teno virus (classification, genetics, immunology)
• Tuberculosis, Pulmonary (virology)
• Viral Envelope Proteins (immunology)