Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis G virus (HGV), transmitted mostly by parenteral route, has been under investigation for its role as an agent for viral hepatitis. This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of HGV in healthy individuals, multi-transfused patients with acute viral hepatitis and those under going dialysis. METHOD: The study included 200 healthy individuals and 180 patients, comprising acute viral hepatitis (100 cases), multi-transfused patients (50 cases) and patients undergoing dialysis (30 cases). HGV RNA and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA was detected by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in all. Viral marker studies for hepatitis A, B and E were carried out by ELISA in acute viral hepatitis cases. In healthy individuals, in patients with multiple transfusions or those undergoing dialysis, marker studies for HBV and HCV were carried out. RESULT: The prevalence of HGV in healthy individuals was 2.5% (5/200), in non A-E hepatitis 3% (3/100), in multi-transfused patients 4% (2/50) and in patients undergoing dialysis 6.67% (2/30). There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate of HGV infection in healthy individuals and in patients with non A-E hepatitis. CONCLUSION: Depending on prevalence rate, HGV could not be implicated as cause of acute viral hepatitis. Persons with parenteral risk factor (multiple blood transfusions and those undergoing dialysis) had higher prevalence rate as compared to healthy individuals.