Molecular prevalence and genotypes of human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1) and SENV-like viruses among multiply transfused patients with beta-thalassemia

Author(s)

Bezerra, Rafael dos Santos ^{[1, 2]} ; Santos, Elaine Vieira ^[1] ; Silveira, Roberta Maraninchi ^[1] ; Silva Pinto, Ana Cristina ^[1] ; Covas, Dimas Tadeu ^{[3, 1]} ; Kashima, Simone ^[1] ; Slavov, Svetoslav Nanev ^{[3, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Reg Blood Ctr Ribeirao Preto, BR-14051140 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Master Degree Program Clin Oncol Stem Cells & Cel, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Internal Med, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: TRANSFUSION AND APHERESIS SCIENCE; v. 59, n. 2 APR 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Due to the high number of transfusions which patients with hereditary hemoglobinopathies (thalassemia, sickle cell disease) receive, they represent high risk of acquiring parenterally transmitted infectious diseases. In this respect, non pathogenic human commensal viruses, which also demonstrate parenteral transmission routes might also be acquired. One of the most widely spread parenterally-transmitted human commensal viruses include the Human Pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1, GBV-C) and Torque teno viruses (TTV) including its SEN virus-like (SENV) forms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HPgV-1 RNA and SENV-like viruses, among a group of patients with beta-thalassemia from a Blood Transfusion Center in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The prevalence of HPgV-1 RNA was 14.3 % (n= 6/42) and all of the positive samples were characterized as belonging to genotype 2 (83.3 % were referred to subgenotype 2A and 16.7 % to 2B). The prevalence of SENV-like viruses was 28.6 % (n= 12/42). SENV-like viruses of the genotypes SENV-H and SENV-A were classified during the performed phylogenetic analysis. Our study came as a continuation of a viral metagenomic survey among multiple transfused patients with beta-thalassemia. The obtained results shed a light on the prevalence and genotype distribution of commensal parenterally transmitted viruses like HPgV-1 and SENV in this specific population. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the clinical impact of these apparently non-pathogenic viruses in patients with thalassemia and their significance for the hemotherapy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/08528-0 - Application of bioinformatic procedures for identification of the impact of the viral infections in hemotherapy
• Grantee: Rafael dos Santos Bezerra
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master