A case-control study of transmission routes for GB virus C/hepatitis G virus in Swedish blood donors lacking markers for hepatitis C virus infection
Author
Summary, in English
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The transmission routes for GB virus-C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) in blood donors unexposed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unknown. We performed a case-control study of risk factors for GBV-C/HGV exposure in blood donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After testing stored sera from 458 HCV-negative blood donors for GBV-C/HGV RNA and GBV-C/HGV E2 antibodies, 66 donors with GBV-C/HGV markers and 125 age- and gender-matched controls were interviewed regarding risk factors for viral transmission. RESULTS: Exposure to GBV-C/HGV was strongly associated with previous treatment for a sexually transmitted disease (odds ratio [OR] 4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-9.8), with multiple sexual partners (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.4-5.7) and with a past history of endoscopy (OR 7.0; 95% CI 3.0-16.4). CONCLUSIONS: In blood donors with GBV-C/HGV markers, sexual contacts and medical procedures appear to be the main transmission routes.
Department/s
- Infectious Diseases Research Unit
- Clinical Microbiology, Malmö
Publishing year
2001
Language
English
Pages
148-153
Publication/Series
Vox Sanguinis
Volume
81
Issue
3
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Topic
- Hematology
Status
Published
Research group
- Infectious Diseases Research Unit
- Clinical Microbiology, Malmö
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1423-0410