Age-dependent acquisition of hepatitis G virus GB virus C in a nonrisk population: Detection of the virus by antibodies

Until now there have been few seroepidemiological data for hepatitis G viru s/GB virus type C (HG7/GBV-C). A four-antigen HGV/GBV-C immunoblot was esta blished to examine l-tb serum specimens from healthy individuals without ri sk factors for parenteral viral transmission. These individuals Here divide d into seven groups according to age. Seroprevalence rates Here low for chi ldren and adolescents (5.6%) and increased for the age groups assumed to be the most sexually active (15.3 to 26.8%). Remarkably, none of the 80 indiv iduals who tested positive for HGV/GBV-C antibodies were simultaneously pos itive for HGV/GBV-C viremia. From our data He conclude that HGV/GBV-C infec tion is widespread in the general population (16 to 25%), The development o f an antibody response is associated with clearance of HGV/GBV-C viremia, D ue to the lack of risk factors for HGV/GBV-C infection of blood, other effi cient transmission routes must exist. It must be assumed that HGV/GBV-C tra nsmission may be linked to sexual activity.