First detection of human hepegivirus-1 (HHpgV-1) in Iranian patients with hemophilia

Yazdan Bijvand,Seyed Davar Siadat,Mohammad Reza Aghasadeghi,Fatemeh Sakhaee,Farzam Vaziri,Fatemeh Rahimi Jamnani,Alireza Azizi Saraji,Parviz Pakzad,Abolfazl Fateh

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-23490-4

Yazdan Bijvand, Seyed Davar Siadat + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23490-4

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Abstract

A novel blood-borne virus called the human hepegivirus 1 (HHpgV-1) was recently discovered in hemophilia patients. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of HHpgV-1 in hemophilia patients. A total of 436 serum samples were investigated for the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV), human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1), torque teno virus (TTV), and HHpgV-1. Out of the 436 patients, 163 (37.4%), 19 (4.4%), 76 (17.4%), and four (0.9%) patients were positive for HCV, HPgV-1, TTV, and HHpgV-1, respectively. HHpgV-1 patients had a mean viral load of 4.9 ± 0.3 log RNA copies/mL and were co-infected with HCV-1a, HPgV-1, and TTV. Moreover, three HHpgV-1-positive patients exhibited stage F0 liver fibrosis. HCV viral load in HHpgV-1-positive patients was lower than those of HHpgV-1-negative patients. Results also revealed that co-infection of HHpgV-1 with HPgV-1 and HCV may play a protective role in patients with chronic HCV. In conclusion, we detected a low frequency of HHpgV-1 infection in hemophilia patients, and results suggested that HHpgV-1 infection was correlated with the presence of other blood-borne viruses and is likely to also correlate with low HCV viral load and reduced severity of liver disease. Additional studies are required to further investigate the clinical importance of HHpgV-1.

Highlights

Blood-derived products from patients with hemophilia, treated by factor VIII concentrates, are possible sources of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI)
This concern continued with the finding that approximately 80% of hemophilia patients treated with blood-derived products before 1992 were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV)[3]
Kapoor et al reported the discovery of human hepegivirus-1 (HHpgV-1), a new blood-borne virus that belongs to the Flaviviridae family and shares features with HCV and human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1)

Summary

Introduction

Blood-derived products from patients with hemophilia, treated by factor VIII concentrates, are possible sources of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI). Detection of HCV, HPgV-1 and TTV in hemophilia patients. The frequency of HCV, HPgV-1, and TTV in hemophilia patients was 163 (37.4%), 19 (4.4%), and 76 (17.4%), respectively.

Results

Conclusion