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GBV-C/HGV infection in hepatitis C virus-infected deferred Swedish blood donors
S Shev1, P Björkman, G Norkrans
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra, Göteborg, Sweden. steven.shev@medfak.gu.se
Insights
More than half of Swedish hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected blood donors showed evidence of GB virus-C/hepatitis G (GBV-C/HGV) infection. Viremia and seropositivity for GBV-C/HGV were mutually exclusive in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Blood Transfusion Medicine
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant public health concern.
- Coinfection with GB virus-C/hepatitis G (GBV-C/HGV) is common in HCV-infected individuals.
- Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of dual infections is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection among Swedish blood donors with HCV.
- To investigate the relationship between HCV and GBV-C/HGV infection markers.
- To explore potential associations between dual infection and liver histology.
Main Methods:
- Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the GBV-C/HGV 5'-noncoding region for RNA detection.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to GBV-C/HGV envelope protein E2 (anti-E2).
- Sequencing of GBV-C/HGV isolates to determine subtypes.
Main Results:
- 56% of 62 HCV-infected donors were positive for either GBV-C/HGV RNA (22%) or anti-E2 antibodies (34%).
- No co-positivity for GBV-C/HGV RNA and anti-E2 was observed.
- GBV-C/HGV exposure was significantly higher in donors with chronic hepatitis (62%) compared to those with mild liver disease (14%).
- GBV-C/HGV subtypes 2a and 2b were identified.
Conclusions:
- Over half of HCV-infected Swedish blood donors in this cohort had evidence of past or current GBV-C/HGV infection.
- GBV-C/HGV viremia and seropositivity are mutually exclusive.
- Dual HCV/GBV-C/HGV infection may be associated with more severe liver histology in HCV-infected individuals.
Abstract:
Sera from 62 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected Swedish blood donors were tested by a nested polymerase chain reaction using primers targeting the 5'-noncoding region of the GB virus-C/hepatitis G (GBV-C/HGV) genome and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that detects antibodies to the envelope protein E2 of GBV-C/HGV (anti-E2). Fourteen (22%) and 21 (34%) of the 62 blood donors were found to be GBV-C/HGV RNA and anti-E2 positive, respectively. None of the blood donors was positive for both GBV-C/HGV RNA and anti-E2. Thus, 35 of 62 (56%) HCV-infected donors had been exposed to GBV-C/HGV infection. At sequencing of the 14 GBV-C/HGV isolates, 12 were identified as subtype 2a and 2 as subtype 2b. One of 7 (14%) donors with mild liver disease such as steatosis and nonspecific reactive hepatitis had been exposed to GBV-C/HGV vs. 34 of 55 (62%) with chronic hepatitis with or without cirrhosis (P = 0.04). All other differences in histology were small between HCV and dual HCV GBV-C/HGV-infected donors. In conclusion, more than half of HCV-infected Swedish blood donors in this study were positive for either GBV-C/HGV RNA or anti-E2. GBV-C/HGV viremia and seropositivity were mutually exclusive.