Detection of TT virus sequences in children with liver disease of unknown etiology

DNA sequences of TT virus (TTV) in 55 serum samples taken from 20 children with liver disease of unknown etiology (16 with acute liver disease, 2 with fulminant hepatitis, and 2 with chronic liver disease) and from 35 healthy children as controls were examined by using the hemi-nested polymerase cha in reaction (PCR). The PCR was carried out using the established primers (N G059, NG061., NG063) to amplify TTV DNA sequences. The sequences were detec ted in 6 of the 20 patients (30.0%) with river disease and in 5 of the 35 h ealthy children (14.2%) by direct gel analysis. There was no significant di fference between the prevalence of liver disease patients and controls. How ever, both patients with fulminant hepatitis and both patients with chronic hepatitis had TTV DNA sequences. Four of the six TTV isolates from liver d isease patients were genotype la, whereas only one of the five TTV isolates from controls was genotype la. Although the study population was small, it is possible that genotype la of TTV might be more pathogenic than other ge notypes in children. J. Med. Virol. 62:104-108, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.