Prevalence of human anelloviruses in Romanian healthy subjects and patients with common pathologies

Abstract

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.

Torque teno virus viral load is related to age, CMV infection and HLA type but not to Alzheimer's disease

“…Our finding of 88% of subjects being TTV DNA positive is in line with previous studies, describing a TTV DNAemia prevalence in the general population ranging between 68 and https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227670.g001 95% [23][24][25]. In the absence of a serologic gold standard for TTV carrier status, it remains an open question whether non-viraemic subjects are uninfected or whether there could be elite controllers of TTV among these.…”

Deep viral blood metagenomics reveals extensive anellovirus diversity in healthy humans

“…It has been proposed that anellovirus load in blood increases in immunosuppressed patients, as has been described in transplanted 47 and HIV-1 patients 48 , 49 . It has also been shown that anellovirus prevalence is lower in healthy subjects than in patients with common pathologies 50 . This has led to the suggestion that viral load could be used as a health biomarker in patients with chronic conditions, or even in people without known pathologies 51 , 52 .…”

High-Depth Viral Blood Metagenomics Reveals Extensive Anellovirus Diversity in Healthy Humans

“…The prevalence of TTMV and TTMDV is markedly lower than that of TTV 25,43 . Overall, apart from some indirect evidence, viruses from the TTDMV genus have not been associated with pathologies 51 .…”

“…It has been proposed that anellovirus abundance in blood increases in immunosuppressed patients, as has been described in transplanted 40 and HIV-1 patients 41,42 . It has also been shown that anellovirus prevalence is lower in healthy subjects than in patients with common pathologies 43 . This has led to the suggestion that viral load could be used as a health biomarker in patients with chronic conditions, or even in people without known pathologies 44,45 .…”