HIGH PREVALENCE OF GB VIRUS-C HEPATITIS-G VIRUS-INFECTION AMONG THE JEWISH POPULATION IN UZBEKISTAN/

Although a new virus, GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV), has be en isolated from patients with hepatitis by two different research gro ups, its prevalence in the world and pathogenesis are still unknown. I n this study, 92 samples from the Jewish population of Uzbekistan were investigated for the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV. GBV-C/HGV RNA was detec ted by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primers derived from the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR). Seq uences were analyzed by a molecular evolutionary method. Of 92 samples , GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected in ten (10.9%), HCV RNA was present in tw o (2.2%), and HBsAg in eight (8.7%). HTLV-I and HIV infection was not detected. Single GBV-C/HGV infection was detected in eight (80%), and co-infection with HBV or HCV was detected in only two of the GBV-C/HGV infections. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were elevated in th ree (3.3%), but none with single GBV-C/HGV infection had an elevated A LT level. Nine people (90%) with GBV-C/HGV infection were distributed under the mean age of the population (P < 0.05). Molecular evolutionar y analysis showed all GBV-C/HGV strains in this study were related to the HGV derived from the US. These results indicate that (1) GBV-C/HGV infection is highly prevalent among the Jewish population in Uzbekist an; (2) single GBV-C/HGV infections without persistent hepatitis are c ommon; and (3) GBV-C/HGV infection is present among the younger genera tion. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.