Frequencies of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus genomes and of specific antibodies in German risk and non-risk populations

✍ Scribed by Nübling, C. Micha; Bialleck, Heike; Fürsch, Andreas J.; Scharrer, Inge; Schramm, Wolfgang; Seifried, Erhard; Schmidt, Urban; Staszewski, Schlomo; Löwer, Johannes

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 48 KB
• Volume: 53
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199711)53:3<218::aid-jmv6>3.0.co;2-b

✦ Synopsis

The prevalence of the new flavivirus GB virus C/hepatitis virus G (GBV-C/HGV) in different German populations was investigated by detection of viral genomes and anti-E2 antibodies. While blood donors had an overall prevalence of 10.4% there were increased rates for hemophiliacs (54.7%), hemodialysis patients (30.2%), male homosexuals (30.2%) and intravenous drug users (74.4%). Most GBV-C/HGV positive samples were either viral genome positive or antibody positive, exclusively. Samples with the rare constellation ''positive for both GBV-C/HGV genome and specific antibody'' originated in almost all cases from patients who were additionally infected with HIV or HCV. Probable transmission of GBV-C/HGV by PCR-positive blood transfusions was observed in 5 of 6 cases approximately six months after transfusion.