Prevalence of GB virus C (also called hepatitis G virus) markers in Norwegian blood donors

GB virus C (GBV-C), also called hepatitis G virus (HGV), occurs worldwide, but the clinical significance of this virus is still unclear. Plasma sample s from 1,001 blood donors were tested by reverse transcription PCR using pr imers from the NS5 region and by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent a ssay (ELISA) for the detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies against the p utative envelope of HGV (anti-HGV E2). GBV-C/HGV RNA was present in the pla sma from 2.5% of the blood donors, and anti-HGV E2 antibodies could be dete cted in 10.5% of the samples. Only one of the blood donors with viremia had elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, Among ELISA-positive donors, there was a significantly higher percentage (16.5%) of individuals who had been treated by acupuncture than individuals who had not been given this tr eatment (9.4%). No other variables showed significant differences, Screenin g of medical records from 401 recipients of blood from PCR-positive donors revealed no association with liver disease. Four of 12 partners (33%) were HGV RNA positive, and sequence analyses of the strains showed that four of the couples probably were infected with the same strains, while strains fro m different couples were not identical. Anti-HGV E2 antibodies were detecte d in serum samples from four other partners. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV am ong blood donors in our region is dramatically higher than the prevalence o f hepatitis C virus (0.03%).