Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2001. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 15, 2001; 7(5): 637-641
Published online Oct 15, 2001. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v7.i5.637
High frequencies of HGV and TTV infections in blood donors in Hangzhou
Jie Yan, Li-Li Chen, Yi-Hui Luo, Ya-Fei Mao, Meng He
Jie Yan, Yi-Hui Luo, Ya-Fei Mao, Meng He, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China;
Li-Li Chen, Department of Stomatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Jie Yan, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Medical School of Zhejiang University, 353 Yan An Road, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China. yanchen@mail.hz.zj.cn
Telephone: +86-571-7217385, Fax: +86-571-7217044
Received: March 12, 2001
Revised: April 16, 2001
Accepted: April 25, 2001
Published online: October 15, 2001
Abstract

AIM: To determine the frequencies of HGV and TTV infections in blood donors in Hangzhou.

METHODS: RT-nested PCR for HGV RNA detection and semi-nested PCR for TTV DNA detection in the sera from 203 blood donors, and nucleotide sequence analysis were performed.

RESULTS: Thirty-two (15.8%) and 30 (14.8%) of the 203 serum samples were positive for HGV RNA and TTV DNA, respectively. And 5 (2.5%) of the 203 serum samples were detectable for both HGV RNA and TTV DNA. Homology of the nucleotide sequences of HGV RT-nested PCR products and TTV semi-nested PCR products from 3 serum samples compared with the reported HGV and TTV sequences was 89.36%, 87.94%, 88.65% and 63.51%, 65.77% and 67.12%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The infection rates of HGV and/or TTV in blood donors are relatively high, and to establish HGV and TTV examinations to screen blood donors is needed for transfusion security. The genomic heterogeneity of TTV or HGV is present in the isolates from different areas.

Keywords: China; DNA virus infections/epidemiology; hepatitis, virus, human/epidemiology; blood transfusion/adverse effect; blood donors; hepatitis agents, GB/isolation & purification