A study on pathogenicity of hepatitis G virus

AIM To study the pathogenicity of hepatitis G virus (HGV) and observe the g enesis and pathological process of hepatitis G. METHODS HGV-RNA in serum was detected by RT-PCR assay. The immunohistochemi cal assays of liver tissue were performed with HGV monocoloned antibody (Mc Ab) expressed from the region of HGV NS5 nucleic acid sequence. The clinica l and pathological data of 52 patients with hepatitis G were discussed. In animal experiment, the Chinese Rhesus monkeys were infected with the serum of a patient with HGV infection. And the dynamic changes in serology and li ver histology of animals were observed. RESULTS One hundred and fifty-four patients with HGV-RNA positive were sele cted from 1552 patients with various kinds of hepatitis. Of 154 patients wi th HGV infection, 52 were infected with HGV only, which accounted for 33.8% (52/ 154) and 102 with positive HGV-RNA were super-infected with other hep atitis viruses, which accounted for 66.2% (102/ 154). The clinical and path ological observation showed that the acute and chronic hepatitis could be i nduced by HGV. The slight abnormality of transaminases ALT and AST in serum of monkeys lasted nearly 12 months and histological results showed a serie s of pathological changes. CONCLUSION HGV is a hepatotropic virus and has pathogenicty.