11/13. Heterosexual transmission of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus infection. GB virus-C (GBV-C) and hepatitis G virus (HGV) are recently identified non-A-E hepatitis-associated viruses belonging to the family flaviviridae. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV in the general population is high (1.2-3.0%), but data on possible transmission routes are sparse. In this report GBV-C/HGV rna was detected in a couple by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers deduced from non-structural regions. Neither partner was coinfected with hepatitis b (HBV), hepatitis c (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (hiv). The child of the couple tested repeatedly negative for GBV-C/HGV by RT-PCR. The couple had lived in a stable monogamous relationship for 10 years and had never used barrier contraception. Other than sexual risk, factors for transmission were carefully excluded. GBV-C/HGV isolates obtained from the couple were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed together with control GBV-C/HGV isolates. The evolutionary distance between the sequences obtained from the couple (1%) was smaller than between any other GBV-C/HGV sequence. Taken together, the clinical and molecular data provide strong evidence for heterosexual but not vertical transmission of GBV-C/HGV in non-coinfected individuals. ( info) |
12/13. Acute hepatitis caused by sexual or household transmission of GBV-C. BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transfusion transmission is the only known transmission route of the recently identified GBV-C. To date, no evidence of household transmission of GBV-C has been reported. In the present study, a case of acute GBV-C hepatitis was investigated with respect to the mode of transmission. methods: A 24-year-old woman with acute GBV-C hepatitis and her asymptomatic husband were examined. Two GBV-C rna samples, isolated at different times from both the patient and her husband were amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using sequences from the NS3 region. Sequencing of this region was subsequently performed for all four samples. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The genomic rna sequences of GBV-C isolated from each partner at two different time points were found to be 100% homologous. However, these genomic GBV-C rna sequences differed in the NS3 (helicase) region from the genomic rna isolated from the GBV-C prototype previously reported by Simons et al. Nonetheless, high homology (83%) was found between the GBV-C prototype and the GBV-C isolated from our patients. In addition, four nucleotides of the GBV-C rna in the present study are unique and are not present in any other reported sequences of GBV-C. These results strongly suggest that GBV-C is one of the etiological agents involved in severe liver injury and was transmitted between this couple. ( info) |
13/13. Condyloma acuminata: a fatal disease? Condyloma acuminata is a virally mediated epithelial overgrowth caused by the human papilloma virus. Its simplest form is the common wart, which may occur almost anywhere on the body surface. Its papillary lesion forms are commonly seen in the genital, perineal, and anal areas, though it also infects the conjunctiva, nose, mouth, larynx, and tracheo-bronchial tree. Malignant degeneration may occur in any of these areas. diagnosis is established by clinical impression and biopsy. immunoassay methods exist but are simply indicative of the presence of infection and are not useful in predicting the course of the disease. Many treatment modalities exist and all work well for minor lesions. For large lesions such as the giant condyloma acuminata, also known as the Buschke-Lowenstein lesion, only radical surgical extirpation is considered to be appropriate treatment. This case report, as well as others referenced in this study, documents the extreme complexity of management of many of these lesions and the fatal outcome of this disease process in a significant number of cases. ( info) |