Rs. Ross et al., DISTINCT PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO THE E2 PROTEIN OF GB-VIRUS-C HEPATITIS-G VIRUS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD, Journal of medical virology, 54(2), 1998, pp. 103-106
Since the identification of the new human virus, GB virus C (GBV-C)/he
patitis G virus (HGV), in 1995/1996, reverse transcription polymerase
chain reaction remained the sole available diagnostic tool for GBV-C/H
GV infection. Recently, a serologic test based on the detection of ant
ibodies to the putative envelope protein 2 (anti-E2) has been introduc
ed. We used this assay for a seroepidemiological survey including 3,31
4 healthy individuals from different parts of the world, 123 patients
from Germany who were suspected to have an increased risk of acquiring
GBV-C/HGV infection, 128 multiple organ donors, and 90 GBV-C/HGV RNA
positive persons. In European countries, anti-E2 seropositivity ranged
from 10.9% (Germany) to 15.3% (Austria). In South Africa (20.3%) and
Brazil (19.5%), even higher anti-E2 prevalence rates were recorded. In
Asian countries like Bhutan (3.9%), Malaysia (6.3%), and the Philippi
nes (2.7%), anti-E2 positivity was significantly lower. GBV-C/HGV anti
-E2 prevalence in potential ''risk groups,'' i.e., patients on hemodia
lysis and renal transplant recipients, did not vary significantly from
anti-E2 seroprevalence in German blood donors. Anti-E2 and GBV-C/HGV
RNA were found to be mutually exclusive, confirming the notion that an
ti-E2 has to be considered as a marker of past infection. (C) 1998 Wil
ey-Liss, Inc.