Prevalence of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus infection in an antenatal population.

It is difficult to explain the high levels of infection seen with GBV-C/HGV if transmission relies on the parenteral route. A group of young women was investigated in order to establish the prevalence of infection in this age group of the general population and perhaps indicate other possible routes of infection, searching for both GBV-C/HGV RNA and HGV E2 antibodies. Evidence of infection was found in 11.8%. This is a higher prevalence than that found in blood donors but lower than in prostitutes. Evidence is accumulating from various groups that sexual/ close contact may result in transmission of this virus.