Seroprevalence of GB virus C hepatitis G virus-RNA and anti-envelope antibody in high-risk populations in Taiwan

Background: GB Virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) was identified in 19 95-1996 as a transfusion-transmissible virus. The diagnosis of GBV-C/HGV in fection is based on the detection of GBV-C/HGV-RNA by using polymerase chai n reaction. Recently, an enzyme immunoassay detecting the antibodies to the viral protein, E2 envelope protein (anti-envelope) of GBV-C/HGV, has been developed. Methods: Serum GBV-C/HGV-RNA and anti-envelope antibody were determined in 76 cases of intravenous drug users (IVDU), 76 patients with regular hemodia lysis and in 80 prostitutes to evaluate the GBV-C/HGV infection rate among high-risk populations in Taiwan. Seventy-six healthy blood donors were rand omly selected and were used as a control group. Results: The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV-RNA in high-risk populations was 33% f or IVDU, 16% for patients with hemodialysis and 13% for prostitutes, which was significantly higher than the 3% obtained in the control group (P < 0.0 5 for all groups). The prevalence of anti-envelope antibody was 13% for IVD U, 21% for patients with hemodialysis and 23% for prostitutes, which was no t significantly different from the control group (11%). Among the 99 subjec ts who had positive GBV-C/HGV markers, 97 were tested for exclusive positiv ity for either GBV-C/HGV-RNA or anti-envelope antibody. Conclusions: The presence of serum anti-envelope antibody usually indicates the clearance of serum GBV-C/HGV-RNA in patients infected with GBV-C/HGV. GB Virus-C/HGV infection in high-risk populations, determined by the presen ce of serum GBV-C/HGV-RNA, may underestimate the true level of past and pre sent infection. (C) 2000 Blackwell Science Asia Pty Ltd.