Purpose: Anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Abs) screening on blood donors has been introduced in France on March 1st, 1990. During the last years, a new agent named Hepatitis G Virus (HGV) has been described. We have tested different groups of blood donors with the aim of establishing the prevalence of the HGV.
Methods: Two hundred and forty-three donors negative for anti-HCV Abs, other viral markers and with normal Alanine Amino Transferase (ALT) as control [group 1], 91 with elevated ALT [group 2], 72 with Abs directed against the hepatitis B virus core (Anti-HBc) [group 3], 3 with elevated ALT and anti-HBc Abs [group 4] and 70 positive for anti-HCV Abs [group 5] were evaluated. HCV-RNA was tested by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (Amplicor, Roche) and HGV-RNA by in house PCR and Abbott Kit. Anti-HGV Abs were tested with Boehringer and/or Abbott tests.
Results: Among group 1, none subject is found HCV-RNA positive. Seven (2.9%) are HGV viremic and 19 positive for anti-HGV Abs (7.8%). Four (4.4%) and 5 (6.9%) donors were HGV-RNA positive and 15 (16.5%) and 16 (22.2%) anti-HGV Abs positive in group 2 and 3 respectively. In group 4, 2 donors are anti-HGV Abs positive. Furthermore, in group 5, 52 subjects (74.3%) are HCV-RNA positive and 9 HGV-RNA positive (12.9%). Six donors are viremic for the both viruses. Lastly, 26 donors have anti-HGV Abs (37.1%). None subject of the five groups has both HGV-RNA and anti-HGV Abs.
Conclusion: The prevalence of HGV-RNA and anti-HGV is high among control donors. In donors with one or two hepatitis surrogate markers (ALT and/or anti-HBc Abs), the prevalence of HGV viremia and anti-HGV Abs is increased as well as among donors with HCV infection.