[Detection of TT virus DNA in patients with non-A to G liver diseases].

A novel single-stranded DNA virus, TT virus(TTV), has been reported recently. We detected TTV viral sequences by polymerase chain reaction using primers derived from nucleotide sequences of ORF1 and the 5' noncoding region of ORF2. Using primers of the 5' noncoding region, TTV DNA was detected in 21 of 25(84%) healthy individuals, suggesting that most TTV strains detected by these primers are almost harmless. In contrast, using primers of ORF1, which detect genotype 1a TTV that was reported to be a causative agent of posttransfusion hepatitis, TTV DNA was detected in only 3 of 25 healthy subjects and 3 of 27 acute and 9 of 72(12%) chronic non-A to G hepatitis patients. Whether these TTV strains actually cause hepatitis remains to be determined.