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GB virus‐C/hepatitis G virus infection in prostitutes: Possible role of sexual transmission
Author(s) -
Kao J. H.,
Chen W.,
Chen P. J.,
Lai M. Y.,
Lin R. Y.,
Chen D. S.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199708)52:4<381::aid-jmv6>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - virology , viremia , gb virus c , sexual transmission , flaviviridae , hbsag , hepatitis c virus , transmission (telecommunications) , virus , medicine , seroprevalence , blood transfusion , antibody , hepatitis , viral disease , hepatitis b virus , immunology , serology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , microbicide , electrical engineering , engineering
The modes of transmission of GB virus‐C/hepatitis G virus (GBV‐C/HGV) other than by blood transfusion are largely unknown. The prevalence of GBV‐C/HGV viremia and the associated risk factors in 145 female prostitutes were examined. The seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV), and GBV‐C/HGV RNA were 14%, 18%, and 11%, respectively. The demographic characteristics were similar between subjects with and without HBsAg. In contrast, those with HCV or GBV‐C/HGV infection had practised longer as prostitutes and received blood transfusion more frequently. Moreover, the prevalence of GBV‐C/HGV RNA and anti‐HCV tended to increase in parallel with the duration of prostitution. These results suggest that like HCV, sexual transmission of GBV‐C/HGV occurs and the risk increased with prolonged duration of exposure. The transmission efficiency between GBV‐C/HGV and HCV appears to be similar. J. Med. Virol. 52:381–384, 1997 , © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.