High prevalence of TT virus in human bile juice samples - Importance of secretion through bile into feces

TT virus (TTV) is much more prevalent than we once imagined. With the use o f primers designed from the noncoding regions, a more than 90% rate of TTV infection in the general population by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been reported, showing that nonparenteral transmission must play an importa nt role to its epidemiology. We considered that TTV may be secreted through bile juice into feces to establish nonparenteral infection. Paired bile ju ice and serum samples were obtained from 26 patients who were receiving bil e drainage. Feces were also recovered after the drainage tube was removed. TTV DNA was detected from 22 patients in serum (84.6%), and they were all T TV DNA positive in bile juice. Most feces samples recovered from TTV-positi ve patients were also TTV DNA positive. Secretion of TTV into bile juice ap pears to be common. and this could play an important role to its transmissi on and its epidemiology.