Molecular detection of Torqueteno virus in healthy blood donors in Khartoum-state, Sudan

Abstract

Torgue teno virus (TTV) is a recently discovered virus with a high DNA prevalence in different populations. Its role in pathogenesis is uncertain. This study was conducted to determine the existence of Torgue teno virus DNA (TTV DNA), and the prevalence of (TTV), among blood donors in Khartoum State, and to generate preliminary rate of infection. The methods used in this present study were conventional PCR diagnostic methods, amplifying the untranslated region (UTR) of (TTV) in serum samples. The consensus primers used are T801 and T935, both primer are able to identify all the genotypes of this virus. 81 Sudanese blood donors, (volunteers) admitted to blood bank Soba Hospital, south of Khartoum were selected for this study. The ages of samples ranged from 18 to 60 years with the mean age of 39 years. Samples were collected throughout the period of October to November 2012. The results which are statistically analyzed show that there was No significant differences in DNA prevalence of (TTV) among blood donors (P>0.05) in their serum samples. The present study is one of first attempts to reports directly major infection rate of TTVDNA in blood donors in Khartoum state Sudan, and focus on the molecular diagnosis of TTV DNA. It revealed that TTV was circulating in Sudan among healthy blood donors. The results of present study demonstrated a high prevalence of TTV in blood donors in Khartoum State-Sudan. Further studies are required to determine prevalence of TTV in other groups and the role of TTV in the pathogenicity of acute and/or chronic liver disease.

Key words: Torqueteno virus (TTV), blood donors, untranslated region (UTR), TTV DNA, PCR