HEV, TTV and GBV-C/HGV markers in patients with acute viral hepatitis

Braz J Med Biol Res. 2005 May;38(5):767-75. doi: 10.1590/s0100-879x2005000500015. Epub 2005 May 25.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of HEV, TTV and GBV-C/GBV-C/HGV in patients with acute viral hepatitis A, B and non-A-C. We evaluated sera of 94 patients from a sentinel program who had acute hepatitis A (N = 40), B (N = 42) and non-A-C (N = 12); 71 blood donors served as controls. IgM and anti-HEV IgG antibodies were detected by enzyme immunoassay using commercial kits. TTV and GBV-C/HGV were detected by nested PCR; genotyping was done by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Anti-HEV IgG was present in 38, 10 and 17% of patients with hepatitis A, B and non-A-C. Four patients with hepatitis A and 1 with non-A-C hepatitis also had anti-HEV IgM detected in serum. TTV was detected in 21% of patients with acute hepatitis and in 31% of donors. GBV-C/HGV was detected in 9% of patients with hepatitis, and in 10% of donors. We found TTV isolates of genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 and GBV-C/HGV isolates of genotypes 1 and 2. Mean aminotransferase levels were lower in patients who were TTV or GBV-C/HGV positive. In conclusion, the detection of anti-HEV IgM in some acute hepatitis A cases suggests co-infection with HEV and hepatitis E could be the etiology of a few cases of sporadic non-A-C hepatitis in Salvador, Brazil. TTV genotype 1, 2, 3 and 4 isolates and GBV-C/HGV genotype 1 and 2 strains are frequent in the studied population. TTV and GBV-C/HGV infection does not appear to have a role in the etiology of acute hepatitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Biomarkers
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • GB virus C / genetics
  • GB virus C / immunology*
  • Genotype
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood*
  • Hepatitis E virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis E virus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / virology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Sentinel Surveillance
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Torque teno virus / genetics
  • Torque teno virus / immunology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Hepatitis Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M