Existence of TT virus DNA in extracellular body fluids from normal healthyJapanese subjects

Although recent studies indicate a high prevalence (12-92%) of TT virus (TT V) DNA in sera of healthy Japanese individuals, there is a paucity of infor mation regarding the route of transmission of this virus. Analyzing the nuc leotide sequences of the existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers o f TN DNA, we developed a set of noble primers (HM-1) and looked for the pre valence of TTV DNA in sera from 39 normal healthy Japanese individuals usin g PCR. The existence of TTV DNA was also checked in saliva, urine, sweat, s tool, and tears from 11 and in semen from 10 serum TTV-positive normal subj ects. TTV DNA was detected in sera from 23 of 39 (59.0%) normal subjects. T TV DNA was also detected in saliva, stool, semen and tears from ail cases w ith TTV-DNA-positive serum, but not in body fluids from subjects with TTV-D NA-negative serum. TTV DNA remained undetected in urine and sweat from all cases. Data from these experiments showing the existence of TTV DNA in diff erent body fluids suggest that the high rates of prevalence of TTV among no rmal healthy subjects might be due to a possible fecal-oral, droplet, or se xual route of transmission of TTV, Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.