Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Iki Island, Japan, an Area Endemic for Human T-lymphotropic Virus Type-I. A Preliminary Study in Patients at Clinics or Hospitals

Abstract

Patients undergoing routine blood tests at clinics or hospitals on Iki Island, Japan were tested for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (anti-HTLV-1). Anti-HCV accounted for 17.5%, HBsAg for 2.9%, and anti-HTLV-1 for 30.3%. Anti-HCV was present in 60.2% of the patients with liver disease and in 13. 5% of those without liver disease. A history of blood transfusion was a statistically significant risk factor for both HCV and HTLV-I infections, as was a history of acupuncture in case of HCV infection. Of the people surveyed, 7.5% had both anti-HCV and anti-HTLV-I, and anti-HTLV-|-positive persons had a significantly higher prevalence of anti-HCV than did anti-HTLV-I-negative persons (24.8% vs 14.3%, p<0.05). These data suggest that Iki Island is highly endemic for both hepatitis C virus (HCV) and for human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I). Blood transfusion may have been the common route in the spread for both HCV and HTLV-I. Acupuncture also may have facilitated the spread of HCV infection, in this area. J Epidemiol, 1994; 4 : 17-23.