Abstract
Introduction. The pathogenicity and transmission routes of Transfusion Transmitted Virus (TTV) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of TTV in hemodialysis patients, injecting drug users (IDUs), and healthy blood donors, in Isfahan, Iran. Method. In a case-control study, a total of 108 subjects were put into three groups namely Group I, 36 hemodialysis patients; Group II, 36 IDUs; and Group III, 36 healthy blood donors as the control group. A 5 ml blood sample was collected from each subject in an EDTA-containing tube. Samples were tested for TTV DNA by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. The mean age was 38.7 ± 14.7 years. Seventy-one subjects (66%) were male. Of the108 cases, 30 (27.8%) were TTV positive and 78 (72.2%) were TTV negative. The prevalence of TTV in IDUs [21 (58%)] was significantly higher than in the other groups [group I: 6 (17 %) and group III: 3 (8%)] (P < 0.0001). Conclusion. The prevalence of TTV in IDUs is significantly higher than in both hemodialysis patients and general population in Isfahan, Iran. It seems necessary to take serious measures to reduce the risk of TTV transmission to IDUs' close contacts and health care providers.
Highlights
The pathogenicity and transmission routes of Transfusion Transmitted Virus (TTV) remain unclear
TTV has been identified within hepatocytes, and was shown to replicate, by in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR); only minor morphologic changes have been seen in cells with positive hybridization signals [3]
The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of TTV in hemodialysis patients, injecting drug users (IDUs), and healthy blood donors
Summary
The pathogenicity and transmission routes of Transfusion Transmitted Virus (TTV) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of TTV in hemodialysis patients, injecting drug users (IDUs), and healthy blood donors, in Isfahan, Iran. In a case-control study, a total of 108 subjects were put into three groups namely Group I, 36 hemodialysis patients; Group II, 36 IDUs; and Group III, 36 healthy blood donors as the control group. The prevalence of TTV in IDUs [21 (58%)] was significantly higher than in the other groups [group I: 6 (17 %) and group III: 3 (8%)] (P < 0.0001). The prevalence of TTV in IDUs is significantly higher than in both hemodialysis patients and general population in Isfahan, Iran. Transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) was identified in 1997 in Japan in a patient with acute posttransfusion non-A-to-G hepatitis [1]. Parenteral [5], fecal-oral [6], mother to fetus and sexual [7] routes have been suggested for TTV transmission
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