Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2004; 10(16): 2402-2405
Published online Aug 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i16.2402
Prevalence of a newly identified SEN virus in China
Shi-Jie Mu, Juan Du, Lin-Sheng Zhan, Hai-Ping Wang, Rui Chen, Quan-Li Wang, Wen-Ming Zhao
Shi-Jie Mu, Wen-Ming Zhao, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, Shaanxi Province, China
Juan Du, Lin-Sheng Zhan, Hai-Ping Wang, Quan-Li Wang, Institute of Field Transfusion Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
Rui Chen, Department of Blood Transfusion, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Innovation Foundation of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, No.200104
Correspondence to: Shi-Jie Mu, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, Shaanxi Province, China. musj@nwblood.com
Telephone: +86-29-83375465 Fax: +86-29-83244952
Received: December 23, 2003
Revised: January 3, 2004
Accepted: January 8, 2004
Published online: August 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To establish nested-PCR methods for the detection of SENV-D and SENV-H and to investigate the epidemiology of SEN virus in China.

METHODS: According to published gene sequences, primers from the conserved region were designed. Then, 135 samples from healthy voluntary blood donors and 242 samples from patients with various forms of liver disease were detected by nested-PCR of SENV-D/H. Some PCR products were cloned and sequenced.

RESULTS: By sequencing, the specificity of genotype-specific PCR was confirmed. SENV-D/H DNA was detected in 31% of the blood donors, which was higher than those in America and Italy (2%), and in Japan and Taiwan (15%-20%). The prevalence of SENV-D/H viremia was significantly higher in patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C than in blood donors (59%-85% vs 31%, P < 0.05). The prevalence among patients with non-A-E hepatitis was significantly higher than among blood donors (68% vs 31%, P < 0.01), and equivalent to that among patients with hepatitis B and C.

CONCLUSION: Nested-PCR with genotype-specific primers could serve as a useful SENV screening assay. SENV has the same transmission modes as HBV and HCV. The high prevalence in patients with non-A-E hepatitis may attribute to the transmission modes, and SENV may not serve as the causative agents.

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