Prevalence of SENV-H viraemia among healthy subjects and individuals at risk for parenterally transmitted diseases in Germany

The prevalence of a newly described DNA virus (SENV‐H) was examined in a population of 599 individuals by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All individuals were assigned to a nonrisk or a risk group depending on the presence of historical or serological factors indicating an increased risk for parenterally transmitted diseases. In a group of 226 healthy blood donors, 38 (16.8%) were found to be SENV‐H viraemic. The highest prevalence of SENV‐H viraemia was observed among patients infected by HIV (28 of 63; 44.4%). Contrarily, of 78 individuals on maintenance haemodialysis, only 10 (12.8%) were found positive in the SENV‐H PCR. Our results demonstrate that SENV‐H viraemia is widespread in the general population. Therefore, it seems to be questionable if parenteral transmission is the main route for spreading SENV‐H. The hepatitis‐inducing capacity of SENV‐H is unclear. However, taking our clinical and epidemiological data into account it seems unlikely that this virus is responsible for hepatitis.