GB virus C or hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV), a recently described orphan flavivirus, is distantly related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). To ascertain the prevalence and predominant mode of transmission of GBV-C/HGV in HIV-infected individuals, we analyzed serum samples from 296 HIV-infected individuals from Hawaii (208 men and 88 women) for GBV-C/HGV antibodies and viremia, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Study participants were classified according to their presumed route of acquisition of HIV infection: 135 (45.6%) homosexual sex, 28 (9.5%) homosexual sex and injection drug use (IDU), 49 (16.6%) IDU, 68 (23.0%) heterosexual sex, and 16 (5.4%) other or unknown. The overall prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection was 52.7%, with seroprevalence of 32.1% and viremia prevalence of 20.6%. GBV-C/HGV infection was most prevalent among homosexual men (Table 3). No elevation in ALT was found among GBV-C/HGV-infected individuals. Our data indicate that GBV-C/HGV infection is associated with homosexual sex, suggesting selective and preferential mucosal transmission. These data will be published, in part, in the Journal of Medical Virology.

Table 3. Prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection among HIV-infected individuals in Hawaii

Nerurkar, V.R., Chua, P.K., Hoffmann, P.R., Dashwood, W-M., Shikuma, C.M., and Yanagihara, R.: High prevalence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection among homosexual men infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1: evidence for sexual transmission. Journal of Medical Virology 1998;56:123-127.