Presentation Jean Pierre Allain

GBV-C, WNV & Dengue V in Ghanaian donors, women & children : 

GBV-C, WNV & Dengue V in Ghanaian donors, women & children C Li, D Candotti, JP Allain National Blood Service & University of Cambridge

Testing algorithm: 

Testing algorithm Screening with Triplex NAT; probes labeled with: CY5 GBV-C, FAM WNV, HEX Dengue Confirmation with virus specific nested RT-PCR Confirmed positive quantified by single virus QPCR for VL Genotyping by sequencing E2 region and phylogenetic analysis Antibody testing with Panbio kits

Quantification of GBV-C RNA load: 

Quantification of GBV-C RNA load RNA from 200 l of plasma Reference high + plasma: last + dilution defines arbitrary unit GBV-C reference curve 40Ct = 1 AU/ml

Distribution of GBV-C markers in blood donors and pregnant women (Li et al. AIDS 2006, 20:379-386): 

Distribution of GBV-C markers in blood donors and pregnant women (Li et al. AIDS 2006, 20:379-386) Blood donations Pregnant women HIV-1 status Neg Pos Neg Pos N samples 140 96 140 86 % RNA+ 12.91 21.9 25 27.9 % anti-E2 + 3.8 14.5 18 17.3 % total markers 16.5 36.4 39.8 38.62 1. P<0.01 ; 2. Total is lower than RNA+Ab as some samples carry both

Slide5: 

Distribution of HIV-1 RNA load according to GBV-C RNA status GBV-C- GBV-C+ (P< 0.01)

Slide6: 

Screening for GBV-C RNA in HIV-1 RNA positive and negative mothers and paired cord blood samples

Slide7: 

Prevalence of GBV-C markers with age

Phylogenetic tree of GBV-C E2 region in Ghana: 

Phylogenetic tree of GBV-C E2 region in Ghana

Slide9: 

Age distribution of IgG antibody to West Nile Virus

Conclusions : 

Conclusions • GBV-C prevalence is high (16-40%) and genotype 1 is dominant • GBV-C viraemia is twice as frequent as neutralising antibodies • HIV-1 RNA load is lower in GBV-C viraemic patients • GBV-C vertical transmission is rare and horizontal transmission appears predominant in West Africa (related to genotype?) • Most WNV infections occur early in life, absence of viraemia, short window period --> minimal risk of transmission by transfusion • Dengue virus does not seem prevalent in Ghana

Slide11: 

Acknowledgements KATH Blood Bank, Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana: Francis Sarkodie, Shirley Owusu-Ofori National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, UK: Sally Baylis Dept of Health & Human Services, F D A, USA: Indira Hewlett INTS Paris, France: Jean-Jacques Lefrere, M Mariotti Roche, USA: Jim Gallarda University of Malaysia, Sarawak: Jane Cardosa