Summary
The novel hepatitis TT virus first described by a Japanese group has been reported to be parenterally transmitted and furthermore, to have been detected in patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology. Hence, in the present study its prevalence was investigated within groups at high risk for contracting blood-borne viruses, such as individuals with chronic liver disease, intravenous drug users and recipients of blood and blood products, as compared to voluntary blood donors and pregnant women. To that end, DNA was extracted from sera obtained from the respective patients and subjected to PCR using semi-nested primers. The frequency of TTV DNA detected within high risk groups, such as nine out of 50 patients with chronic non-A-to-G liver disease (18%), nine out of 98 hepatocellular carcinoma cases (9.2%), 17 out of 52 intravenous drug users (32.7%), 15 out of 80 thalassemia patients with multiple blood transfusions (18.8%) and three out of 31 prostitutes (9.7%) exceeded that among voluntary blood donors and pregnant women, which amounted to 14 out of 200 (7%) and seven out of 103 (6.8%), respectively. Additional molecular research should be performed in order to determine its short-, as well as long-term clinical significance.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lisitsyn, M., Lisitsyn, N., Wigler, M.: Cloning the differences between two complex genomes. Science 259 (1993) 946–951.
Nishizawa, T., Okamoto, H., Konishi, K., Yoshizawa, H., Miyakawa, Y., Mayumi, M.: A novel DNA virus (TTV) associated with elevated transaminase levels in post-transfusion hepatitis of unknown etiology. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 241 (1997) 92–97.
Okamoto, H., Nishizawa, T., Kato, N., Ukita, M., Ikeda, H., Iisuka, H., Miyakawa, Y., Mayumi, M.: Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel DNA virus (TTV) associated with post-transfusion hepatitis of unknown etiology. Hepatol. Res. 10 (1998) 1–6.
Simmonds, P., Davidson, F., Lycett, C., Prescott, L. E., MacDonald, D. M., Ellender, J., Yap, P. L., Ludlam, C. A., Haydon, G. H., Gillon, J., Jarvis, L. M.: Detection of a novel DNA virus (TTV) in bloo donors and blood products. Lancet 352 (1998) 191–195.
Songsivilai, S., Dharakul, T., Kanistanon, D.: Hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 90 (1996) 505–507.
Kaneko, S., Feinstone, S. M., Miller, R. H.: Rapid and sensitive method for the detection of serum hepatitis B virus DNA using the polymerase chain reaction technique. J. Clin. Microbiol. 27 (1989) 1930–1933.
Poovorawan, Y., Theamboonlers, A., Chongsrisawat, V., Seksarn, P., Jarvis, L. M., Simmonds, P.: High prevalence of hepatitis G virus infection in multiply transfused children with thalassaemia. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 13 (1998) 253–256.
Poovorawan, Y., Theamboonlers, A., Chongsrisawat, V., Jantaradsamee, P.: Prevalence of infection with hepatitis G virus among various groups in Thailand. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 92 (1998) 89–95.
Poovorawan, Y., Pongpunlert, W., Chumdermpradetsuk, S., Sakulramrung, R., Israsena, S.: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among high risk groups in Thailand. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health 22 (1991) 133–134.
Poovorawan, Y., Theamboonlers, A., Surastian, A., Seksarn, P.: Clearance of hepatitis G virus infection in thalassaemic children. Infection 26 (1998) 408.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Poovorawan, Y., Theamboonlers, A., Jantaradsamee, P. et al. Hepatitis TT virus infection in high-risk groups. Infection 26, 355–358 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02770835
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02770835