SEN infection

SEN virus, a candidate for inclusion in the alphabet of viral hepatitis, was discovered in 1999 in the serum of an HIV-infected patient with elevated ALT and AST activity and negative serum test results for HAV, HGV and TTV markers. It was designated by the initials of this patient.

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Epidemiology of SEN infection

Studies conducted in various countries and regions of the world have shown a high level of virus prevalence among various population groups. Most often, it was detected in patients who had undergone heart surgery, received blood transfusions and subsequently developed acute hepatitis non-A nor E (83.3%); patients with chronic hepatitis non-A nor E (68%). In the group of people with an increased risk of infection with hepatitis viruses with a parenteral mechanism of transmission of the pathogen, the frequency of detection of SEN virus DNA is 2-3 times higher than the frequency of its detection in primary donors.

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What causes SEN infection?

SEN virus is a non-enveloped particle containing circular single-stranded DNA. Based on its physicochemical and structural characteristics, SEN virus is classified as a member of the Circoviridae family (as is TTV ). It has several genotypes, the most frequently identified being genotypes D and H.

Symptoms of SEN infection

It has been established that HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV are capable of causing acute and chronic hepatitis, however, HGV is considered as a causative agent conditionally.

Hepatitis can be one of the manifestations of diseases caused by other viruses, microorganisms and helminths. Most often, symptoms of liver damage are detected in spirochetosis, yersiniosis, herpes virus infections (infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus infection). In addition, hepatitis is one of the main symptoms of yellow fever and can develop with protozoan infections (malaria, amebiasis, leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis). Jaundice, as the most obvious sign of hepatitis, can occur with salmonellosis, listeriosis, tuberculosis, helminthiasis (opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, toxocariasis, ascariasis, schistosomiasis). Very often, hepatitis is observed in sepsis of various etiologies. Acute viral hepatitis caused by parvovirus B19 has been described.

Diagnosis of SEN infection

It should be remembered that with negative results of examination for markers of hepatitis AG viruses, exclusion of other infectious nature of hepatitis, the doctor may encounter liver damage in primary biliary cirrhosis of the liver, primary sclerosing cholangitis. Due to the similarity of the onset of the disease, changes in biochemical parameters of the blood, patients with autoimmune, drug and alcoholic hepatitis are often admitted to the infectious diseases hospital. Finally, hepatitis can be the first manifestation of Wilson-Konovalov disease.

However, even if all the listed diseases are excluded, in some cases the etiology of hepatitis remains unclear, although epidemiological data, clinical features of the disease, nature of liver damage and biochemical changes suggest a viral etiology of the disease. As a rule, such patients are diagnosed with "unspecified viral hepatitis" (ICD-10 code - B19). It can also be referred to as viral hepatitis neither A nor G. TTV and SEN viruses may be "candidates" for the role of etiological agents of this hepatitis.

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Laboratory diagnostics of SEN infection

The main method for detecting TTV is currently PCR. Attempts have been made to create a test system for determining the content of IgM and IgG to the TTV virus. It has been shown that class M antibodies appear at the onset of the disease, circulate simultaneously with TTV DNA, and then disappear, and class G antibodies appear. However, these laboratory diagnostic methods are at the stage of scientific development and are not yet used in clinical practice. In addition, there are no commercial test systems for detecting SEN virus markers in biological fluids of the body.

Treatment of SEN infection

There is no treatment for TTV and SEN infections.

How is SEN infection prevented?

SEN infection is prevented by the same methods as for hepatitis with a parenteral mechanism of infection.