BackgroundHuman anelloviruses (TTV, TTMDV and TTMV) are at high prevalence all across the globe, having also a controversial disease-inducing potential. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of anelloviral DNA in the Romanian human population and to investigate the association of infections with common pathologies in Romanian population.MethodsAfter informed consent, blood samples were collected from 2000 subjects represented by: clinically healthy individuals (n = 701) and a group of patients with pathologies linked to low grade inflammation or alteration of carbohydrate metabolism (n = 1299). All samples were analysed for the presence of TTV, TTMDV and TTMV DNA by hemi-nested PCR.ResultsThe prevalence of TTV, TTMDV and TTMV in the studied population was 68.2, 54.4%, respectively 40.1%, lower than the recent reports from other geographic regions. The three viral species were significantly more frequent in the group of patients compared to the healthy subjects and were associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The presence of anelloviral DNA was also associated with medical procedures (e.g. haemodialysis/transfusions, surgical procedures) and previous hepatitis A virus infection. Lifestyle choices related to alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity and living environment were not associated with differences in distribution of the three viruses.ConclusionFurther evidence is needed to establish a correlation between infection with human anelloviruses and a pathology or group of pathologies.

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Torque teno virus (TTV) is highly prevalent, but little is known about its circulation in humans. Here, we investigated the geographical distribution and phylogeny of TTV in Romania. A fragment of TTV untranslated region B was sequenced in samples from volunteers across the country. Additional sequences from dialyzed patients were also included in the study. Phylogenetic analysis showed that more than 80% of Romanian sequences clustered with isolates assigned to the species Torque teno virus 1 and Torque teno virus 3 (former genogroup 1), and this analysis discriminated between isolates from the North-East and West regions. Further studies assessing the pathogenic potential of TTV isolates should employ analysis based on genomic regions with phylogenetic resolution below the species level. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00705-022-05559-8.

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Background:The existing literature showed conflicting data on the association between peridontosis and IL6 and TGFb1 polymorphisms.Aim: to investigate the correlation between susceptibility to chronic periodontitis and TGFb1 C-509T, IL6 G-174C polymorphisms and TTV infection in Romanian population.Materials and methods: Five hundred and fifteen subjects (260 healthy and 255 patients with chronic periodontitis) of Romanian origin were selected for this study. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and the two polymorphisms and the presence of torque teno virus DNA were tested by PCR-based methods. StatsDirect was used for data analysis.Results: Our data showed that lifestyle choices (e.g. inadequate personal oral hygiene -O.R. =7.66, p<0.0001, taking irregular meals -O.R. =2.82, p<0.001 and smoking O.R.=1.5, p=0.01) increase the risk of periodontitis. We also identified differences in distribution of TGFb1 C-509T and IL-6 G-174C polymorphisms in patients and control groups. However, there was no association between the distribution of TGFb C-509T variants and the risk of periodontitis in male (p=0.85). There was an association between the presence of IL6 -174G allele and chronic periodontitis in the overall group of subjects (O.R.=1.6, p=0.01) and in men (O.R.=1.82, p=0.02), but not in women (p=0.2). The prevalence of TTV DNA and association with periodontitis was consistent with previous studies.Conclusions: Lifestyle choices, IL6 G-174C and TTV were associated with periodontitis in our lot. Further investigation conducted on a larger group with less confounding factors is required in order to validate these findings.