Prevalence of Torque teno virus in healthy donors of Paraná State, southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of the Torque teno virus in healthy donors in the northern and northwestern regions of the state of Paraná, southern Brazil.METHODS: The Torque teno virus was detected by a nested polymerase chain reaction using a set of oligoprimers for the N22 region.RESULTS: The prevalence of the virus was 69% in 551 healthy blood donors in southern Brazil. There was no statistically significant difference between the presence of the virus and the variables gender, ethnicity and marital status. There was significant difference in the prevalence of the virus regarding the age of the donors (p-value = 0.024) with a higher incidence (74.7%) in 18- to 24-year-old donors.CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of Torque teno virus was observed in the population studied. Further studies are needed to elucidate the routes of contamination and the clinical implications of the virus in the healthy population.

Detection of Torque teno midi virus/small anellovirus [TTMDV/SAV] in the sera of domestic village chickens and its vertical transmission from hen to eggs

Although the infection of different animals and non-human primates with other members of Anelloviridae have already been reported there is no report about infection of animals with Torque teno midi virus/Small anellovirs [TTMDV/SAV]. The aim of this study was to detect the virus in domestic village chickens. Blood samples were collected from 79 domestic village chickens in Isfahan. Blood samples of five adult laying hens and one cockerel were collected in three consecutive weeks [days 1, 8 and 14] as experimental chickens. Ten eggs were randomly collected from the eggs laid during days 12 to 17 and thin and thick egg whites and yolk samples were collected aseptically. After DNA extraction Nested-PCR was performed using SMAs/SMAr primers. In PCR, 431 bp and 441 bp products were detected. The detected bands were extracted and sequenced. Totally 26 out of 79 [32.9%] of the blood samples were positive for the virus. The frequency of the infection of the different parts of the eggs tested was 76%. For the first time TTMDV/SAV was detected in domestic village chickens which also vertically transmitted to eggs

Detection Rate and Genetic Variability of Small Anellovirus DNA from Blood Donors at a Tertiary Hospital / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Small anellovirus (SAV) is a new member of the genus Anellovirus and this virus can infect humans. SAV could be transmissible by transfusion. However, there have been no studies about the genotypes of SAV among the blood donors in Korea. In this paper, the detection rate and genotypes of SAV were investigated among the blood donors at a tertiary hospital. METHODS: A total of 286 plasma samples from blood donors were tested. SAV DNA was amplified using primers derived from the open reading frame 1 (ORF1) region. Simultaneously, Torquetenovirus (TTV) and torquetenominivirus (TTMV) DNA were detected from the SAV DNA positive plasma samples by using nested PCR. Sequencing of amplicons (n=41) was carried out to investigate the SAV genotypes. RESULTS: SAV DNA was detected in 28.7% (82/286) of the blood donors. TTV or TTMV DNA was detected in 37.8% (31/82) of the SAV DNA positive blood donors. Twenty-four sequences were determined and compared with those deposited in the databases (GenBanK) and they revealed a high degree of genetic variability among the SAV DNA (nucleotide similarity: mean 69.3, range 61.2~99.3%). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the existence of three main clusters, which were tentatively assigned to genotype 1 (G1), genotype 2 (G2), and genotype 3 (G3), respectively. Genotype G1 was most prevalent and this was followed by G2 and G3. CONCLUSION: The detection rate of SAV DNA among Koreans seems to be higher than that stated in the previous reports from some other countries. Moreover, we determined the genotype distribution of SAV among Korean blood donors.

Detection of Small Anellovirus DNA from Blood Products / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: The small anellovirus (SAV) is a new member of the genus Anellovirus infecting humans. SAV can be transmissible by transfusion. However there are no reports on SAV infections in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SAV in blood products. METHODS: A total of 90 plasma samples from blood products (each 30 units of Red blood cell, whole blood, and platelet concentrate) and 30 serum samples from non-A to C hepatitis patients were tested. SAV DNA was detected using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At the same time, TTV and TTMV DNA were detected using nested PCR. RESULTS: SAV DNA was detected in 34% (31/90) of blood products. TTV and TTMV DNA were detected in 66% (54/90) and 29% (26/90) of blood products, respectively. One of the three anelloviruses (SAV, TTV, TTMV) was detected in a total of 77 blood products (86%). SAV DNA was detected in 40% (12/30) of hepatitis patients. TTV and TTMV DNA were detected in 73% (22/30) and 33% (10/30) of those patients, respectively. One of the three anelloviruses (SAV, TTV, TTMV) was detected in 97% (29/30) of hepatitis patients. CONCLUSION: Blood products are frequently infected with SAV and (or) other anelloviruses (TTV/TTMV) in Korea, and can be transmissible with a high probability.