DETECTION OF GBV-C HCV RNA IN SALIVA AND SERUM, BUT NOT IN URINE OF INFECTED PATIENTS/

Saliva and urine samples from six GB virus C (GBV-C)-hepatitis G virus (HGV)infected renal transplant patients were tested by RT-PCR. Viral RNA was detected in all saliva samples, but the viral RNA titers in sa liva were 100 to 10,000 lower than those in the corresponding sera. Co mparative sequence analysis of the amplified 354 bp DNA from one patie nt revealed full identity of GBV-C/HGV variants present in serum and s aliva. None of the urine samples from the six patients was found to co ntain GBV-C/HGV RNA. High prevalence of GBV-C/HGV RNA in saliva of inf ected individuals may contribute to a wide spread of GBV-C/HGV infecti on, at least in some settings.