Risk Analysis of the Exposure to GB Virus C/Hepatitis G Virus among Populations of Intravenous Drug Users, Commercial Sex Workers and Male Outpatients at STD Clinic in Chiang Mai, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study

An exposure to GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) was studied among populations at risk for blood and sexual exposure to analyze risk factor of the transmission of the virus. Blood samples were drawn from 98 intravenous drug users (IVDU), 100 female high-class commercial sex workers (CSW) and 50 male outpatients (MOP) at a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in Chiang Mai, Thailand. These blood samples were analyzed for GBV-C/HGV RNA; antibodies against second envelope protein of GBV-C/HGV (anti-E2); anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV-Ab); hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb); and antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-Ab). Prevalences of GBV-C/HGV RNA, anti-E2, HCV-Ab, HBcAb and HIV-Ab were 27.6%, 16.3%, 84.7%, 76.5% and 45.0% in IVDU; 0%, 21.5%, 2.0%, 72.0% and 11.0 % in CSW; 6.0%, 13.6%, 0%, 64.0% and 1 4.0% in MOP. While the prevalence of GBV-C/ HGV RNA was higher in IVDU than in CSW and MOP, comparable prevalences of anti-E2 among the three populations were found. Intravenous drug injection showed association with GBV-C/ HGV RNA, while history of STD associated with anti-E2. In conclusion, intravenous drug injection and STD were found to be risk factors for the previous exposure to GBV-C/HGV, but STD did not increase the risk of the GBV-C/HGV viraemia.