IgM-class antibodies to TT virus (TTV) in patients with acute TTV infection

TT virus (TTV) is a human circovirus with a single-stranded, circular DNA g enome of 3.8 kb. A method was developed to detect IBM antibodies to TTV as a serological marker for the diagnosis of acute TTV infection. ISM antibodi es in test sera were captured by a monoclonal antibody against IgM/mu on a solid support followed by binding of IgM with TTV derived from fecal extrac t of a TTV carrier. The presence of IgM-specific TTV particles was determin ed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using nucleic acids extracted from th e solid support. Anti-TTV ISM was detected in sera from two patients with n on-A to G post-transfusion hepatitis, who were positive for TTV DNA during weeks 10-21 and 12-17, respectively, following transfusion. The anti-TTV Ig M was detectable after alanine transaminase levels were elevated and TTV DN A was detectable in the patients. The duration of the anti-TTV IgM was shor t-lived compared with anti-TTV IgG Anti-TTV IgM was not detected in sera Fr om any of 36 healthy individuals, with no detectable anti-TTV IgG or TTV DN A in their serum. These results indicate that anti-TTV IgM antibodies would be a useful market to detect acute TTV infection. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.