P0327 PREVALENCE OF SEN VIRUS AMONG CHILDREN IN JAPAN

Abstract

Introduction: Recently, a novel deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) virus, designated as the SEN (SENV). To date, eight different SENV variants (designated as SENV-A through SENV-H) have been described. A recent study showed a strong association between infection with two SENV variants (SENV-D and SENV-H) and transfusion-associated non-A to E hepatitis. To clarify the character of SENV infection in children, we investigated the detection rates of serum SENV-D and SENV-H DNA. Methods: We studied 140 children. Of 34 children with non-A to C hepatitis, 5 were classified into the fulminant hepatitis group, 20 were classified into the acute hepatitis group, and 9 were classified into the chronic hepatitis group. Another 46 children had histories of blood transfusions. Sixty children with neither histories of blood transfusions nor liver diseases were studied as the control group. The adult group consisted of 60 pregnant Japanese women. The DNA was extracted from serum. The SENV DNA was detected by modified PCR methods using strain-specific primers, as described elsewhere. Results: The SENV-D DNA was detected in 3 of the 5 patients (60%) with fulminant hepatitis, 1 of the 20 patients (5%) with acute hepatitis, 1 of the 9 patients (11%) with chronic hepatitis, 8 of the 60 people (13%) in the control group, and in 9 of the 60 pregnant women (15%). The SENV-H DNA was detected in none of the 5 patients with fulminant hepatitis, 1 of the 20 patients (5%) with acute hepatitis, none of the 9 patients with chronic hepatitis, 1 of the 60 people (2%) in the control group, and in 7 of the 60 pregnant women (12%). No significant difference was found in the SENV-D detection rate between the control group and the groups with various types of liver disease. However, the prevalence of SENV-D in the fulminant hepatitis group was significantly higher than that in the control group, in the acute hepatitis group, and in the group of pregnant women (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the SENV-H detection rate between the control group and the groups with various types of liver disease. However, a significant difference in SENV-H detection rate was found between the control group and the group of pregnant women (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the SENV DNA positive children and the SENV DNA negative children in sex, ALT levels, or history of blood transfusions. Conclusion: Our results suggest that SENV-D and SENV-H do not contribute to acute or chronic hepatitis in children. However, SENV-D might be a risk factor of cryptogenic fulminant hepatitis in children.