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TT Virus Infection in Screened Taiwanese Blood Donors
Author(s) -
Ho T.F.,
Yang S.C.,
Huang Y.T.,
Hsieh M.H.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1046/j.1423-0410.2000.7940198.x
Subject(s) - virology , virus , polymerase chain reaction , primer (cosmetics) , torque teno virus , medicine , hepatitis c virus , viral disease , biology , blood donor , immunology , gene , genetics , chemistry , organic chemistry
Objective:TT virus (TTV) is a newly discovered human DNA virus of uncertain clinical significance. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of TTV infection among blood donors in Taiwan. Methods: Viral DNA was studied in 224 healthy blood donors and 118 deferred donors. DNA was extracted from plasma and amplified by seminested polymerase chain reaction with reported primer sets from a conserved region of the TTV genome. Results: The prevalence of TTV DNA in the deferred donors was 24.6%, significantly higher than in the healthy donors (11.9%). TTV was also more prevalent in those with hepatitis B surface antigen than in those without it (p = 0.002). Conclusion: In comparing normal with deferred Taiwanese blood donors, hepatitis B virus infection is linked to a higher prevalence of TTV infection.