OBJECTIVETransfusion transmitted virus (TTV) DNA was detected in serum samples obtained from healthy infants and volunteer blood donors living in Jiujiang city in an attempt to shed light on the prevalence of TTV infection and the transmission route of TTV infection in infants.

METHODSModified untranslated region, polymerase chain reaction (UTR PCR) and N22 PCR were performed to test TTV DNA in serum samples from 86 infants and 58 blood donors.

RESULTSTTV DNA was detected by UTR PCR in 51 (53.5%) infants and 58 (100%) in blood donors, while that tested by N22 PCR was 14 (16.3%) and 22 (37.3%) in infants and blood donors, respectively. Among infants younger than 30 days, 1 - 6 months and 7 - 12 months of age, TTV DNA was detected by UTR PCR and N22 PCR at rates of 0, 33.3%, 95.0% and 0, 7.4%, 30.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rates of TTV DNA detected by UTR PCR were 95% in infants of 7 - 12 months after birth and 100% in healthy blood donors in Jiujiang city. However the results obtained by N22 PCR were much less frequently in the same population. Results showed that significant difference did exist in the prevalence of TTV DNA detected by the two different PCR systems. Age-dependent increase of TTV infection was observed in early childhood, while environmental sources were considered to be the most common route of TTV acquisition as the primary infection in infants. However, the prevalence of TTV in infants of 7 - 12 months was similar to that in healthy adults in the same region.