GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Sera from 70 patients on maintenance haemodialysis, 98 patients with chroni c liver disease, and 232 volunteer blood donors in the province of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, were screened for GB virus/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HG V) RNA and anti-E2 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-P CR) and by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. GBV- C/HGV RNA was detected in 17/70 (24.3%) haemodialysis patients, 12/98(12.2% ) patients with chronic liver disease, and 44/232 (18.9%) blood donors (Afr icans [29/76; 38.2%]; Asians [2/52; 3.8%]; Whites [11/49; 22.4%], and "Colo ureds" [persons of mixed origin; 2/55; 3.6%]). Overall (anti-E2 and/or RNA) 43.9% (43/98) of patients with chronic liver disease, 47.1% (33/70) of hae modialysis patients, and 31.9% (74/232) of blood donors (Africans [44/76; 5 .9%]; Asians [5/52; 9.6%]; Whites [15/49; 30.6%], and Coloureds [9/54; 16.6 %]) were exposed to GBV-C/HGV infection. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection (RNA and/or anti- E2) between Afr ican blood donors and the other racial groups (P<.001), and between blood d onors and haemodialysis patients (P = .02) and patients with chronic liver disease (P = .04). Anti-E2 antibodies and GBV-C/HGV RNA were almost mutuall y exclusive. GBVC/HGV-infected haemodialysis patients received more transfu sions (P = .03) than noninfected patients. There was no significant differe nce in liver biochemistry between GBV-C/HGV-infected and noninfected patien ts and between blood donors in each of the four racial groups. The high pre valence of GBV-C/HGV infection in blood donors and chronic liver disease pa tients, and the lack of elevated liver enzymes and clinical hepatitis in bl ood donors and haemodialysis patients, suggest that GBV-C/HGV may not be as sociated with liver disease. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.