GB virus C infection in blood donors from Córdoba, Argentina

Parenteral transmission of GBV-C/hepatitis G virus has previously been reported [1]; the prevalence of GBV-C RNA in blood donors varies from 0·8 to 4% in developed countries [2]. Since no data have been available from the region of Córdoba, Argentina we have assessed the prevalence in 104 serum samples from healthy blood donors at the Blood Bank of the National University of Cordoba in April 2000. All samples were negative for HBsAg, anti-HIV and antiHCV. Viral RNA was extracted from 100 μ l of serum with guanidinium isothiocyanate and cDNA synthesized using antisense primer YK877 with MMLV reverse transcriptase (GIBCO BRL, Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD) in a final volume of 20 μ l at 37 ° C for 60 min. HGV genome were amplified with the primers from de NS5 region YK-874, YK876, YK-1183, and YK877 according to Viazov S et al . [3] The cycle parameters were 94 ° C for 30 s, 60 ° C for 60 s and 72 ° C for 60 s for 32 cycles. In second-nested PCR 1 μ l of the product was submitted to 30 cycles under the same conditions. Amplification products were separated by electrophoresis in 1·5% agarose. The nested PCR products was 402 bp. HGV RNA was detected in eight of the 104 sera. The proportion of GBV-C infected blood donors (7·7%) was high compared with that in developed countries but less than the 10% prevalence in blood donors from Brazil, a neighbouring country [4]. This estimate of the overall prevalence of GBV-C infection is likely to be underestimated since serological assays to detect antibody as evidence of previous infection are not available. GBV-C is therefore prevalent in our country and more extensive studies to assess its prevalence more accurately are needed.