Prevalence of GB virus C (also called hepatitis G virus) markers in Norwegian blood donors.

ABSTRACT: GB virus C (GBV-C), also called hepatitis G virus (HGV), occurs worldwide, but the clinical significance of this virus is still unclear. Plasma samples from 1,001 blood donors were tested by reverse transcription PCR using primers from the NS5 region and by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies against the putative envelope of HGV (anti-HGV E2). GBV-C/HGV RNA was present in the plasma from 2.5% of the blood donors, and anti-HGV E2 antibodies could be detected in 10.5% of the samples. Only one of the blood donors with viremia had elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase. Among ELISA-positive donors, there was a significantly higher percentage (16.5%) of individuals who had been treated by acupuncture than individuals who h

SUBMITTER: Nordbo SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC86975 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature