Abstract

Very little reports are yet available for the infection rate of Torque Teno virus (TTV) among hemodialysis patients in Upper Egypt. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the frequency and the possible genotypes of TTV in chronic renal failure patients undergoing dialysis. This cross-sectional study was carried out between August 2016 and February 2017 in three haemodialysis units in Minia, Egypt. Blood samples were collected for serological detection of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and for detection of TTV. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect TTV. Isolates genotypes were identified by sequencing of the N22 region and phylogenetic analysis was also performed. Out of 100 dialysis patients, 76 were TTV positive (52 males and 24 females), with no significant association with gender. TTV was significantly more common among young adults than in older patients. Increased period of haemodialysis posed a high risk for acquiring TTV: Odd Ratio (OR) = 1 and 95% Confidence Interval (CI)= 1.01-1.03. No association was noted between TTV infection and either HCV or HBV infection. Genogroup 1, especially genotype 2 was the most frequently found type in hemodialysis patients. TTV is vastly predominant among Egyptian haemodialysis patients with no significant association with HCV or HBV. Further analyses are recommended to associate the renal failure outcome with the virus load.

Key words: Torque Teno virus, dialysis, phylogenetic biogeography.