Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo (Feb 2012)

Evaluation of GBV-C / HVG viremia in HIV-infected women

  • Synara Araújo Silva,
  • Célia Lima Rodrigues,
  • Aléia Faustino Campos,
  • José Eduardo Levi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652012000100006
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 54, no. 1
pp. 31 – 35

Abstract

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The present study aimed at standardizing a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay to evaluate the presence of GBV-C/HGV RNA. A "TaqMan" assay using primers and probe derived from the 5¢ NCR region was developed and validated. Two hundred and fifty-three plasma samples from HIV-infected women were tested for GBV-C viremia and antibody against the envelope protein 2. GBV-C RNA was detected in 22.5% of the patients whereas the antibody was identified in 25.3% of the cohort. Detection of viral RNA and of antibodies was mutually exclusive. Viral loads showed a mean of 1,777 arbitrary units / mL, being 1.1 and 13,625 arbitrary units / mL respectively the lowest and highest values measured. We conclude that the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method developed is appropriate for the investigation of GBV-C RNA since it was shown to be highly specific and sensitive, as well as requiring few steps, preventing contamination and providing additional information as to the relative viremia of carriers, a parameter that must be included in studies evaluating the co-factors influencing the clinical outcome of HIV/AIDS.

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