Occurrence and molecular characterization of human pegivirus‐1 (HPgV‐1) viremia in healthy volunteer blood donors from Northern Portugal

Abstract

Human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1) is a member of the Flaviviridae family and the Pegivirus genus. Despite having been discovered 25 years ago, there is still much to know regarding HPgV-1 clinical impact, as this virus is currently not associated with any pathology. Yet, HPgV-1 prevalence and molecular characterization are still unknown in many countries, including Portugal. To fill in this knowledge gap, this study aimed to determine the occurrence and molecular characterization of HPgV-1 in a group of healthy blood donors from the north of Portugal. Blood samples from 465 Portuguese blood donors were collected from a major Hospital Center in the north of Portugal. RNA was extracted and an initial nested RT-PCR was performed targeting the conserved 5′-untranslated region region of the HPgV-1 genome. A second nested RT-PCR targeting the E2 region was performed for genotyping. Only one sample tested positive for HPgV-1 RNA, resulting in a prevalence of approximately 0.22%. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the characterization as genotype 2, the most prevalent in Europe.

Human Pegivirus-1 Detection and Genotyping in Brazilian Patients with Fulminant Hepatitis

“…Genotype 2 is a prevalent genotype of HPgV-1, being the most disseminated in Europe and the USA [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. It is particularly detected among individuals who inject drugs [ 10 , 32 , 33 ]. Studies performed in Brazil show that in this Latin American country, genotype 2 is dominant [ 9 , 31 , 34 ]; this includes the state of São Paulo [ 34 ].…”

“…Due to the fact that it was initially detected in samples obtained from patients with acute hepatitis, it was supposed that HPgV-1 is a causative agent of acute hepatic conditions [ 8 ]. However, more detailed studies demonstrated that it has no significant pathologic impact and is widely distributed throughout the world, including in healthy subjects who donate blood [ 9 , 10 ]. Additionally, it was proposed that HPgV-1 positivity in HIV-infected patients and in patients who have undergone hematopoietic transplantation might exert a positive impact on immune reconstitution [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Is the Hepatitis G Virus a Hidden Menace to Liver Health in Specific Populations?

“…Hepatitis G virus (HGV), also known as Human pegivirus (HPgV-1) or GB virus C (GBV-C), is a single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus that is related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) [1,2]. It shares some genetic similarities with HCV and is found in patients with chronic liver disease [3,4]. However, unlike other hepatitis viruses, its role in hepatitis disease is still unclear [1,3].…”

“…HGV causes no noticeable symptoms or signs of liver disease [3,5]. However, in some cases of chronic or long-lasting HGV infection, its presence in the bloodstream (viremia) has been documented [4,5].…”

“…Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection test HGV RNA alone is not enough to fully check the effects of the virus on the liver [8]. Additional diagnostic tests, such as assessment of liver function tests (LFTs), are needed to confirm the clinical effects of HGV and evaluate its influence on liver health and damage [4]. Measuring liver enzyme levels can help determine the effects of an HGV infection on liver function [3,9].…”