Prevalence and genetic heterogeneity of SEN virus genotypes D and H in blood donors from Central and Western Europe and West Africa

Objectives: To establish prevalence and phylogenetic relationship of SEN virus (SENV) D and H in blood donors from Scotland, Czech Republic and Ghana. Aim: To compare the data between three regions with differing prevalence of blood‐borne viruses. Background: Anelloviruses are a ubiquitous group of viruses without a clear disease association. Although there is little evidence that they are pathogenic per se, they may have the ability to modify ongoing disease processes. They have a high degree of heterogeneity both within populations and across geographic regions. Materials and Methods: Three sets of donor samples were analysed by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridisation. A proportion of amplified samples were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Results: The prevalence figures (including mixed D + H infection) were established for SENV D: 1·0, 8·4 and 25·2% and H: 12·5, 34·8 and 61·0% in Scottish, Czech and Ghanaian blood donors, respectively. The compilation of prevalence figures indicates the changing ratio of SENV D/H in west‐east direction, most obvious between Western Europe (D/H < 1) and far East Asia (D/H > 1). Phylogenetic analysis grouped the samples mostly in accordance with geographic origin, despite the variability of short sequence analysed. The previously indicated link between SENV prevalence and age was statistically significant in this study, only for SENV H in Czech samples. Conclusion: SENV D and H appear to reflect the incidence of other blood‐borne viruses in these locations. SENV H prevalence of 45·4% in Ghana represents the highest single‐SENV‐genotype prevalence described in blood donors to date.