Molecular characterization of Torque teno virus and SEN virus co-infection with HIV in patients from Southern Iran

Introduction Torque teno virus (TTV) and SEN virus are circular single-stranded DNA viruses that cause blood-borne infections. The SEN virus (SEN-V) was originally detected in the serum of an injection drug user infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Recently TTV was discovered as a potential causative agent of non-A-E hepatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the SEN-V-D/H and TTV in HIV patients and healthy blood donors in Iran. Methods One hundred and fifty HIV patients with a mean age of 50.46 ± 18.46 years and 150 healthy blood donors with a mean age of 48.16 ± 13.73 years were included in this study. TTV and SEN-V were detected by the PCR and were quantitatively assayed by competitive PCR (nested and semi-nested PCR). Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were used to determine the heterogeneity of TTV. Results TTV and SEN-V were detected 96 (64%) and 84 (56%) of 150 HIV patients respectively. These rates were 34% (n=51) and 37.33% (n=56) in healthy blood donors (significant, p<0.05). PCR detected SEN-V/TTV DNA from 32 of the healthy blood donors (21.33%), while 65 (43.33%) of HIV patients were positive for SEN-V/TTV DNA. Of 150 HIV patients, 32.66% and 23.33% were positive for SEN-V-H and SEN-V-D, respectively and 18.66% (n=28) were co-infected with SEN-V-D/H. Conclusions The prevalence of SEN-VD/H and TTV is higher in HIV patients than in healthy blood donors in Southern Iran. Our results suggest that TTV and SEN-V might play a role in the development of liver disease in patients with immunodeficiency diseases. .

SEN virus infection in patients with chronic hepatitis gravis after plasma exchange / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of SEN virus(SENV)infection in patients with chronic hepatitis gravis before and after plasma exchange,and its influences on liver function.Methods Two subtypes of SENV,SENV-D and SENV-H were detected in sera from 40 patients with chronic hepatitis gravis before and after plasma exchange.The changes of liver function were also tested before and after plasma exchange.Data analysis was done by t test and ehi-square test.Results Among 40 patients with chronic hepatitis gravis,SENV-D positive rates before and after plasma exchange were 27.5%(11/40)and 42.5%(17/40),respectively,and SENV-H positive rates before and after plasma exchange were 27.5%(11/40)and 50.0%(20/40),respectively,which were all significantly different(X2=4.17,X2=7.11,both P<0.05)between before plasma exchange and after plasma exchange.And after the treatment of plasma exchange,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)level was(164±75)U/L in SENV positive patients,which was significantly higher than that in SENV negative patients[(48±12)U/L,t=3.13,P<0.05].But there were no significant differences of other liver function indexes between SENV positive and negative groups.Condusions SENV can be transmitted via plasma exchange.SENV coinfection may influence the restoration of liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis gravia after the treatment of plasma exchange.

Isolation of SEN virus and sequence analysis of partial gene in sera from blood donors / 中国输血杂志

Objective To identify SEN virus and analyse the sequence of its partial gene in blood donors in China.Methods Two pair primers from ORF1 of SENV genome were designed and samples from blood donors were detected for SENV DNA by nested PCR.The isolates from blood donors were cloned and sequenced.Results 6 isolates were obtained in 329 sera from blood donors.The sequence analysis showed that there were about 52%～100% homology of deduced amino acid between SENV A～H genotypes and 6 isolates from blood donors. The Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that 6 SENV isolates from blood donors belong to SENVH genotype.Conclusion There exists SENVH genotype infection among blood donors in China. SENV may be transmitted through blood transfusion.