Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in western Venezuela: lack of specific antibody in Indian communities.
J Med Virol
; 43(3): 287-90, 1994 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7523583
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted mainly by the parenteral route after percutaneous exposure to virus-infected products or body fluids. Thus, HCV shares with hepatitis B and D (HBV, HDV) viruses this common transmission route. The prevalence of antibody against HCV (anti-HCV) was studied in 1155 serum samples from individuals at risk of infection by bloodborne or sexually transmitted agents, as well as from others lacking such risk factors, from the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela. Anti-HCV and serological markers of infection by HBV and HDV were also studied in further 550 samples taken from Bari Indians living in different communities in the Perijá mountains, State of Zulia, Venezuela. The results obtained showed that recipients of blood or blood products are at increased risk of HCV infection in Maracaibo, whereas sexual transmission plays only a minor role if any. Both HBV and HDV infections were highly prevalent among Bari Indians (64.4% positive for anti-HBc; 11.1% of HBsAg carriers; 15.3% positive for anti-HDV among HBsAg carriers). No anti-HCV positive samples were, however, detected among them, thus suggesting either that HCV has not still reached this population or that HBV and HDV are transmitted by routes unshared by HCV. Anti-HCV was also absent among samples from mentally retarded patients from Maracaibo, thus confirming similar findings from other countries and supporting the existence of specific transmission mechanisms for HBV and HDV which are not working for HCV.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Hepatite C
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Pregnancy
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
/
Venezuela
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Med Virol
Ano de publicação:
1994
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Venezuela
País de publicação:
Estados Unidos