The prevalence of SEN virus infection in blood donors in Taiwan.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of SENV infections among blood donors in central Taiwan and to clarify the relationship between these infections and elevated alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) values.

Methods: DNA was extracted from plasma of 200 blood donors and amplified by seminested PCR.

Results: For all donors, the prevalence of SENV-D was 32%, and of SENV-H was 30.5%. Prevalence of mixed SENV-D/H infection was 11.5% and of SENV-D and/or SENV-H (SENV-D/H) was 51%. Infections were not associated with age, gender, or raised ALT values.

Conclusions: SENV-D and SENV-H infections are common among blood donors in central Taiwan but are unlikely to contribute to abnormal ALT values.