Abstract
The SEN virus (SENV), a DNA virus that has been linked to blood transfusion, is a major cause of post-transfusion hepatitis. SENV-D and SENV-H are non-A to E hepatitis viruses. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of SENV-D/H among dialysis patients and blood donors as control group in Diyala province/Iraq. This study includes 120 participants: 80 dialysis patients who have been attending the Ibn-Sina Dialysis Center-Diyala Directorate of Health were previously diagnosed with the disease, and 40 individuals as controls were selected at random from blood donors at the Central Blood Bank during the period from 1/5/2025 to 30/11/2025. Full information had been taken directly from the patients, and the information had been arranged in an informative formula sheet, which includes age and gender. All study subjects were screened for nested polymerase chain reaction. The SENV-D prevalence was 10 (12.50%) and 0.00% for dialysis patients and controls, respectively, and SENV-H was 5 (6.25%) and 1 (2.50%) for dialysis patients and controls, respectively. The SENV co-infection rate of genotypes D and H was 3 (7.50%) in the dialysis group, and no cases in the control group were found. A very strong association was found between the distinct SENV genotypes and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C virus (HCV) status. Positivity for SENV was also correlated with high serum Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT). SENV-D and SENV-H were more prevalent among hemodialysis patients than in normal blood donors. The presence of SEN-V in both groups indicates its categorization as a blood-borne virus and suggests risk for transmission by blood exposure.
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