GB virus C RNA prevalence and genomic characterization from two haemodialysis units from Argentina

MARÍNCOLA A; ESPÍNOLA L; MATHET V; FELD M; QUARLERI JF; DIAZ C; CARBALLAL G; OUBIÑA JR

Atlanta, USA

Simposio; 10th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease; 2000

Objectives: To detect and characterize GB virus C (GBV-C; hepatitis G virus) strains circulating within two different haemodialysis units from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods: GBV-C was investigated in serum samples from two haemodialysis units (Unit A: 100 sera; Unit B: 40 sera). Viral specific RNA was amplified by RT-Nested PCR using primers for the 5´UTR. Amplicons of 325-329 bp were expected. RFLP was carried out by cleavage with Hinf I, Aat II and Aci I. Results: RT-Nested PCR proved positive in 7 out of 100 (7%) samples in unit A and 9 of 40 (22.5%) in unit B. RNA prevalence was significantly different between them (P < 0.01). Unit A GBV-C RNA rate was not significantly different from a control group of blood donors (5.5%; n=200). Viral isolates were ascribed either to subgroup 2a (n=7), or 2b (n=1), genogroup 3 (n=6), genogroup 1 (n=1), or undetermined (n=1). Conclusions: This partial view of GBV-C molecular epidemiology in two haemodialysis units from Buenos Aires, Argentina shows: (i) different rates of GBV-C RNA prevalence, one of them significantly different from RNA prevalence observed in blood donors; and (ii) circulation of genogroups 1, 2 and 3 among haemodialysed patients.