Hepatitis C Virus Seroprevalence Research Articles

Seropositivity and coinfection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in Central India: A hospital-based study

ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) show similarity in the transmission, distribution, hepatotropism, and leading to chronic asymptomatic infection. Coinfection of HBV and HCV can lead to more severe liver disease and an increased risk for progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Most of the people with chronic infection are unaware of their HBV and HCV infections, hence facilitating these to go undiagnosed until these viruses have caused serious liver damage and they act as a potential source of infection for the community at large. Therefore, the present study aimed to find the prevalence of HBV and HCV along with incidences of coinfection of HBV and HCV in patients seeking hospital care in central India. Methods: A five-year hospital-based study was carried out at the tertiary care hospital in Central India from 2018 to 2022. A total of 72402 patients attending the outdoor patients and admitted indoor patients who were advised for HBV and HCV for screening before any invasive/surgical procedure and patients who presented with symptoms of acute or chronic liver disease were included in this study. Screening was done by immunochromatography-based card test followed by the confirmation of all samples by enzyme immunoassay. Results: Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV was found to be 3.71% and 1.91%, respectively. Coinfection with HBV/HCV was seen in 0.13% of the individuals. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HBV-HCV coinfection was significantly higher in the male population as compared to females. Conclusion: The study findings of seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among the hospital-based population will help to get a baseline understanding of the disease burden in central India. The HBV/HCV coinfection rate also raises serious concerns owing to its high prevalence rate among the younger age.

Intermediate hepatitis C virus (HCV) endemicity and its genotype distribution in Myanmar: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Comprehensive details on Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Myanmar are lacking. This study determined the prevalence of HCV antibodies and ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes across different populations in Myanmar from 1990 to 2023. A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and local journals identified studies reporting on HCV antibodies, RNA, and genotypes, excluding clinical research related to liver disease prognosis. Screening and data extraction was done by two authors and study populations were categorized into low-risk, high-risk, liver disease patients, and refugees outside the country. The pooled prevalence was performed by Dersimonian and Laird method using the R program. The publication bias was shown by funnel plot, the Egger test was used to assess the symmetry of the plot, and the heterogeneity was examined by the Cochran Q test and I2 index. Out of 135 reports screened for eligibility, 35 reports comprising 51 studies were included in which 33 studies provided data on HCV seroprevalence in 685,403 individuals, 8 studies reported HCV RNA prevalence in 25,018 individuals, and 10 studies examined HCV genotypes in 1,845 individuals. The pooled seroprevalence of HCV among low-risk, high-risk, liver disease patients and refugees were 2.18%, 37.07%, 33.84%, and 2.52% respectively. HCV RNA-positive rates in these groups were 1.40%, 5.25%, 24.96%, and 0.84% respectively. Seroprevalence studies showed publication bias (Egger test, p = 0.0001), while RNA studies did not (Egger test, p = 0.8392). HCV genotype 3 was predominant in all sub-groups in Myanmar. Our study shows Myanmar has intermediate HCV endemicity with lowest HCV prevalence of 2.18% in low-risk groups and highest prevalence of 37.07% in high- risk groups. However, the findings highlight the need for further epidemiological studies to understand actual disease burden and implement effective countermeasures to achieve the WHO's goal of HCV elimination by 2030.

Prevalence, trends, and distribution of hepatitis C virus among the general population in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although the evidence is uncertain, existing estimates for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) indicate a high burden. We estimated HCV seroprevalence and viraemic prevalence among the general population in SSA. We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, APA PsycINFO, and World Health Organization Africa Index Medicus for community-based studies. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool, and heterogeneity using the index of heterogeneity (I2). Two approaches were deployed. First, we used random-effects meta-analysis to pool prevalence. Second, to derive representative estimates, we weighted each country's HCV seroprevalence using 2021 United Nations country population sizes. We synthesized 130 studies. Overall, SSA HCV seroprevalence from the random-effects model was 4.17% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.71-4.66, I2 = 99.30%). There were no differences between males (4.31%) and females (4.03%). Seroprevalence was 2.25%, 3.31%, and 16.23% for ages ≤20, 21-64, and ≥65 years, respectively, and was higher in rural (6.63%) versus urban (2.93%). There was indication of decrement overtime from 5.74% to 4.35% to 3.03% in the years 1984-2000, 2001-2014, and 2015-2023, respectively. The weighted overall SSA HCV seroprevalence was estimated to be 2.30% (95% CI: 1.59-3.00) with regional variation: Africa-Southern (.79%), Africa-Central (1.47%), Africa-Eastern (2.71%), and Africa-Western (2.88%). HCV viremia among HCV seropositives was 54.77% (95% CI: 47.80-61.66). HCV seroprevalence in SSA remains high. Populations aged ≥65 years, rural communities, Africa-Western, and some countries in Africa-Central and Africa-Eastern appear disproportionately affected. These results underline the need for governmental commitment to achieve the 2030 global HCV elimination targets.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus and Factors Associated with It in Armenia, 2021.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is among the leading causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Knowledge of its prevalence and risk factors can help to effectively fight the virus. This study was the first to investigate the seroprevalence of HCV, its genotypes, and factors associated with it among the general adult population of Armenia selected countrywide via cluster sampling. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected using third-generation immunoassay. Polymerase chain reaction and genotyping was performed among anti-HCV-positive individuals. Shortly after testing, the participants underwent a telephone survey. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with anti-HCV antibody positivity and chronic HCV infection. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies among 3831 tested individuals was 2% (99% CI 1.4, 2.5), and chronic HCV infection was 0.7% (99% CI 0.4, 1.0), with genotypes 3 and 2 being the most common. The risk factors for chronic HCV infection included self-reported chronic liver disease (95% CI 1.47, 15.28), having tattoos (95% CI 1.34, 10.94), ever smoking (95% CI 1.16, 9.18), and testing positive for hepatitis B virus core antibody (95% CI 1.02, 7.17). These risk factors demonstrate that there could be room for strengthening infection control measures to prevent the transmission of HCV in Armenia.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C, hepatitis B, hiv and syphilis among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital in Mogadishu-Somalia in 2020–2022: a retrospective study

BackgroundThe safety of blood donation requires screening for transfusion-transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in blood donors of Mogadishu Tertiary Care Hospital, Somalia from 2020 to 2022.MethodsThe records of 109,385 blood donors who attended our blood center in Mogadishu-Somalia between 2020 and 2022 were examined retrospectively. Serum samples of donors; HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and syphilisscreening tests were studied using the microparticleEnzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA)(Vitros, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, U.S) method.The distribution of HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and syphilis positivity rates of 109,385 blood donors according to years, gender and age were examined. Kolmogorov Smirnov, Skewness, Kurtosis tests and histogram were used for normality analysis. Chi-squared test (χ2) and Fisher Exact test were used to analyze categorical data. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency (percentage). Analysis of continuous data was performed with the Mann Whitney U test. P < 0.05 value was considered statistically significant.ResultsHBsAg positivity was found in 0.6% of the donors, anti-HCV positivity in 0.01%, anti-HIV positivity in 0.03% and syphilispositivity in 0.3%. The results showed that among the blood donors, the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis Cwas notably low.ConclusionThe prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis among blood donors in Somalia was found to be quite low. Even if our found seroprevalence rates are low, to guarantee the safety of blood for recipients, strict selection of blood donors and thorough screening of donors’ blood using accepted procedures are strongly advised.

Hepatitis C Virus Seroprevalence and Genotypic Distribution Among Hemodialysis Patients at a Teaching and Training Hospital in Western Rajasthan, India.

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a chronic hepatotropic blood-borne infection. The transmission of HCV in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) is more common in comparison to the general population due to factors such as frequent blood transfusions, prolonged vascular access, and the potential for nosocomial infections. Western Rajasthan in India is home to numerous teaching and training hospitals that cater to a large number of HD patients. Understanding the seroprevalence and genotypic distribution of HCV in this specific patient population is crucial for assessing the extent of infection within this vulnerable group for targeted surveillance and developing effectively tailored treatment protocolsin healthcare settings. Hence, this study was conducted with an aim to determine seroprevalence, seroconversion, and genotypes of HCV in HD patients at a tertiary care hospital. Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study. The duration of the study was from July 2019 to March 2022. In this study, the patients undergoing maintenance HD due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) were recruited. The data collected include patients' demographics, etiology of CKD, underlying other co-morbidities, duration of dialysis, and biochemical and blood count parameters. The patients recruited at the start of the study were screened for anti-HCV antibodies by HCV enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The anti-HCV antibody-negative patients were followed up for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies. At the end of the follow-up period, all anti-HCV antibody negative samples in the pool of five and all anti-HCV antibody positive samples were subjected to a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) and core region, followed by line probe assay (LiPA). Results In this study, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 109 patients were recruited, out of which 64 (58.7%) were males and 45 (41.3%) were females. The age range of participants was 11-88 years with a mean and standard deviation of 46.75 and 16.35 years, respectively. A total of 39 patients (20 on screening, 19 on follow-up) were detected anti- HCV antibody positive. By RT-PCR, 24 patients tested HCV RNA positive (10 on screening, 14 on follow-up). Among 24 HCV RNA-positive samples, LiPA showed, HCV genotype 1a (n=21), genotype 3b (n=1), and two samples were detected to be inconclusive. Conclusion The increasing duration of dialysis is significantly associated with acquiring HCV infection. The majority of the cases of CKD in this geographical region are due to hypertensive nephropathy. There can be discordance between antibody and viral RNA positivity in HCV infection. The predominant HCV genotype identifiedin the dialysis ward of tertiary care hospital was genotype 1a.

Trends in hepatitis C virus seroprevalence and associated risk factors among msm in Pakistan: insights from a community-based study

Pakistan bears a substantial burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with the second-highest prevalence globally. This community-based cross-sectional study, conducted from January to December 2022 in Punjab, Pakistan, investigates the seroprevalence of HCV among the men who have sex with men (MSM) population. The study identifies demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with HCV infection within this population group. Among the 501 participants, the study found an HCV seroprevalence of 14.86%. The association between demographic characteristics and seroprevalence is assessed by calculating the percentage of positive cases, revealing notable associations with age, education level, and self-identified sexual orientation. Furthermore, the study identified several behavioral risk factors positively associated with HCV seroprevalence, including sharing personal items such as razors and toothbrushes, histories of surgery, blood transfusion, dental procedures, intravenous drug use, and therapeutic injection histories. These risk factors were identified through structured interviews, and the prevalence of HCV seropositivity among the exposed groups was calculated accordingly. Interestingly, a lower HCV positivity rate was observed among self-reported HIV-positive individuals, contradicting previous research. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive, targeted prevention strategies such as risk factor awareness campaigns and educational programs tailored for the MSM population in Pakistan. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and better understand the complex interplay of factors contributing to HCV seroprevalence in this high-risk population.

Global epidemiology, natural history, maternal-to-child transmission, and treatment with DAA of pregnant women with HCV: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Pregnant women with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represent a special population in which treatment access remains limited despite its increasing prevalence. A reliable estimate of the burden and clinical outcomes of pregnant women with HCV infection is crucial for HCV elimination. We aimed to determine the prevalence, maternal-to-child transmission (MTCT), maternal and fetal complication rates, and direct acting antivirals (DAA) treatment outcomes of chronic HCV infection in pregnant women. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science from inception until March 1, 2024, for studies reporting on the prevalence, MTCT, complications of HCV infection, and treatment outcomes of DAA in pregnant women. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We performed subgroup analysis based on 9 variables to explore the source of heterogeneity in HCV prevalence. The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42024500023. From a total of 311,905,738 pregnant women from 333 studies, the pooled global seroprevalence of HCV in pregnant women was 2.6% (95% CI: 2.0-3.2, I 2=100%) which increased in patients with intravenous drug use and HIV. Majority of the HCV cases in pregnant women (75%) are diagnosed through universal screening. The pooled MTCT rate was 9.0% (95% CI: 6.6-11.7, I 2=79%), which was higher with HIV co-infection (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1-4.6, I 2=10%), but was not influenced by the mode of delivery or breastfeeding. Pregnant women with HCV infection had more maternal complications, including intrahepatic cholestasis, preterm delivery, and antepartum hemorrhage. Neonates of mothers with HCV had higher odds of being small for gestational age. The pooled rate of sustained virologic response (SVR12) among the 74 women treated with DAA during pregnancy was 98.4%, with no serious adverse events reported. HCV prevalence in pregnant women varies by geographic region and patient population, while MTCT occurs in almost one in ten viremic mothers. The incidence of both maternal and neonatal complications is significantly higher in patients with HCV infection. Limited data suggest that DAA are safe in pregnant women with HCV infection. None.

Prevalence of chronic hepatitis C infection in the general population: results from a national survey, Estonia, July to December 2022.

IntroductionObtaining epidemiological data on chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is essential to monitor progress towards the hepatitis C elimination targets.AimWe aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic HCV and the seroprevalence of HCV in the adult general population in Estonia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study, conducted between 12 July and 6 December 2022, included anonymised residual sera collected prospectively from patients 18 years and older visiting a general practitioner in all counties of Estonia. Specimens were considered HCV-seropositive if they tested positive for HCV antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassay, confirmed by line-immunoblot assay. Chronic HCV infection was determined by positive RT-qPCR.ResultsWe tested a total of 4,217 specimens. The estimated HCV seroprevalence and prevalence of chronic HCV infection were 1.8% (95% CI: 1.4-2.2) and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.5-1.1), respectively, with ca 8,100 persons estimated to have chronic HCV infection in the general adult population of Estonia. No statistically significant differences in the prevalence of chronic HCV infection were observed between sexes, counties or age groups, with the highest prevalence rates observed in men (sex ratio: 1.7), Ida-Virumaa County (1.8%; 95% CI: 0.8-3.6) and the age group 40-49 years (1.7%; 95% CI: 0.9-2.9).ConclusionThis study found an overall low prevalence of chronic HCV infection in Estonia. Continued efforts should be made for the targeted screening, diagnosis and treatment of individuals with chronic HCV infection to achieve hepatitis elimination targets.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis c virus in Blood Donors in Kabul in 2023

Introduction: Understanding the prevalence and distribution of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is crucial for the development of effective prevention and control strategies, given its significant impact on global public health. The objective of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of HCV among blood donors in Kabul and assess the possible gender-based variations in infection rates. Materials and Methods: This study analyzed blood donor records from the central blood bank in Kabul, including both male and female donors, from January to December 2023. HCV screening was performed using ELISA testing, and the data were analyzed using SPSS to determine HCV prevalence and investigate gender-based differences in infection rates. Results: In this study, 59 out of 15,080 individuals (0.39%) tested positive for HCV infection. Among the HCV-positive cases, 81.5% were male and 18.6% were female. The majority of infected males (64.4%) were in the 30-39 age range. A significant proportion of HCV-positive patients had no formal education (69.5%) and were unemployed (61.0%). Additionally, the majority of HCV-positive patients reported a low monthly income (66.1%). Discussion: The study found a low prevalence of HCV infection (0.39%) among the participants, with the highest rates observed in the 30-39 age group. Socioeconomic factors, such as lack of education, unemployment, and low income, were associated with HCV infection. Targeted interventions are needed to address gender disparities, age-specific risks, and socioeconomic determinants to improve prevention and control strategies for HCV in Kabul's blood donor population and enhance overall population health.

Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among People Living with HIV/AIDS Attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria

Study’s Novelty/Excerpt This study assesses HIV/HCV coinfection and associated risk factors among patients at Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, highlighting the seroprevalence of HCV among HIV/AIDS reactive individuals. The novelty lies in its detailed demographic analysis, revealing significant age, gender, tribal, educational, and occupational disparities, with a notably high seropositivity among people who inject drugs. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted HCV screening and intervention strategies in HIV/AIDS patients, particularly in demographic subgroups identified as having higher seroprevalence, to improve early diagnosis and management. Full Abstract The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a large healthcare burden. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and HCV coinfection are major global health concerns worldwide. This study aimed to assess the HIV/HCV coinfection and the potential risk factors among people attending Specialist Hospital, Sokoto. A cross-sectional seroprevalence survey of HCV infection was carried out on 77 HIV/AIDS reactive subjects attending Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, from 30th March 2021 to 4th May 2021. Serum samples were tested for anti-HCV antibodies using immunochromatographic test. Of the 77 study participants, the overall anti-HCV antibody prevalence was 5.2%. The 36-40 age group revealed the highest seropositivity of 18.18%, followed by 51-55 years (14.29%) and the least (11.11%) among 26-30 years. Females had the highest seropositivity of 6.25% and males least (3.45%). The highest seropositivity was seen among the Hausa tribe (7.14%), while the least in Fulani (5.56%). The highest seropositivity was recorded among people with no formal education (6.82%), while people with formal education had the least (5.88%). The highest seropositivity was seen in self-employed individuals (6.52%) regarding occupational status, while employed individuals had the least (4.17%). Married individuals had the highest seropositivity of 7.69%, while the divorced and widow/widower had 5.26% and 4.76% respectively. People who injected drugs recorded the highest seropositivity of 33.33%, with multiple sex partners at 6.90%, while people who shared sharp objects had the least (6.67%). There were no significant differences statistically in HCV seroprevalence among the different age categories, gender, tribe, education, occupation, marital and risk factors (p&gt;0.05). The HCV prevalence rate (5.8%) observed in this study underscored the need to intensify HCV screening among people living with HIV/AIDS for early diagnosis and management of cases.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Among Blood Donors in a Tribal-Preponderant Region of India.

Hepatitis C isa global health burden with significant morbidity and mortality. It primarily affects the liver and causes acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Common modes of transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are blood transfusion, needlestick injury, and mother-fetus transmission, among which transmission, blood transfusion is one of the most important causes. Blood transfusion is one of the pillars in the management of patients that saves lives and improves morbidity. Blood donation in India is done by voluntary and replacement blood donors of both sexes.The aim of this study is to determine the seroprevalence of HCV among blood donors in the Jharkhand state, a tribal-preponderant region of India, and to see the trend over the years. This is a nine-yearretrospective observational study from 2015 to 2023 that screened for anti-HCV antibodies (third-generation kit: Abbott Diagnostics) using the chemiluminescence technique. In this study, in total, 249,461 units of blood were collected, of which the majority of donations were by male and replacement donors (RDs) comprising230,757 (92.50%) and 188,047 (75.38%), respectively. The meannumber of blood donations by replacement and male donors (MDs) was more than for voluntary donors (VDs) and female donors (FDs) (20894.11 ± 3041.71 RDs vs. 6823.77 ± 2332.96 VDs, p < 0.0001 and 25639.66 ± 2810.08 MDs vs. 2078.22 ± 828.16 FD, p < 0.0001), respectively. The overall prevalence of HCV was 0.63%, and all seropositive donors were male. Replacement blood donation contributes to the major part of blood donation and is primarily done by males in this tribal population-dominant region of India. Seroprevalence of HCV is high in the population of this part of India, and there is a constant or slightly upward trend in hepatitis C infection among individuals.

Hepatitis C virus diversity and treatment outcomes in Benin: a prospective cohort study

10 million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in sub-Saharan Africa. The assessment of viral genotypes and treatment response in this region is necessary to achieve the WHO target of worldwide elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of HCV genotypes and outcomes of treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents in Benin, a country with a national HCV seroprevalence of 4%. This prospective cohort study was conducted at two referral hospitals in Benin. Individuals were eligible for inclusion if they were seropositive for HCV and willing to consent to participation in the study; exclusion criteria were an inability to give consent or incarceration. Viraemia was confirmed by PCR. The primary outcomes were to identify HCV genotypes and measure sustained virological response rates 12 weeks after completion of treatment (SVR12) with a 12-week course of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir or sofosbuvir-ledipasvir, with or without ribavirin. We conducted phylogenetic and resistance analyses after the next-generation sequencing of samples with a cycle threshold (Ct) value of 30 or fewer cycles. The in-vitro efficacy of NS5A inhibitors was tested using a subgenomic replicon assay. Between June 2, 2019, and Dec 30, 2020, 148 individuals were screened for eligibility, of whom 100 were recruited prospectively to the study. Plasma samples from 79 (79%) of the 100 participants were positive for HCV by PCR. At the time of the study, 52 (66%) of 79 patients had completed treatment, with an SVR12 rate of 94% (49 of 52). 57 (72%) of 79 samples had a Ct value of 30 or fewer cycles and were suitable for whole-genome sequencing, from which we characterised 29 (51%) samples as genotype 1 and 28 (49%) as genotype 2. Three new genotype 1 subtypes (1q, 1r, and 1s) and one new genotype 2 subtype (2xa) were identified. The most commonly detected subtype was 2d (12 [21%] of 57 samples), followed by 1s (eight [14%]), 1r (five [9%]), 1b (four [7%]), 1q (three [5%]), 2xa (three [5%]), and 2b (two [3%]). 20 samples (11 genotype 2 and nine genotype 1) were unassigned new singleton lineages. 53 (93%) of 57 sequenced samples had at least two resistance-associated substitutions within the NS5A gene. Subtype 2d was associated with a lower-than-expected SVR12 rate (eight [80%] of ten patients). For one patient, with subtype 2b, treatment was not successful. This study revealed a high SVR rate in Benin among individuals treated for HCV with sofosbuvir-velpatasvir, including those with highly diverse viral genotypes. Further studies of treatment effectiveness in genotypes 2d and 2b are indicated. Medical Research Council, Wellcome, Global Challenges Research Fund, Academy of Medical Sciences, and PHARMBIOTRAC.

Analysing HCV incidence trends in people who inject drugs using serial behavioural and seroprevalence data: A modelling study

IntroductionThe introduction of new direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, has enabled the formulation of a HCV elimination strategy led by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Guidelines for elimination of HCV target a reduction in incidence, but this is difficult to measure and needs estimating. MethodsSerial cross-sectional bio-behavioural sero-surveys provide information on an individual's infection status and duration of exposure and how these change over time. These data can be used to estimate the rate of first infection through appropriate statistical models. This study utilised updated HCV seroprevalence information from the Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring survey, an annual survey of England, Wales and Northern Ireland monitoring the prevalence of blood borne viruses in people who inject drugs. Flexible parametric and semiparametric approaches, including fractional polynomials and splines, for estimating incidence rates by exposure time and survey year were implemented and compared. ResultsIncidence rates were shown to peak in those recently initiating injecting drug use at approximately 0.20 infections per person-year followed by a rapid reduction in the subsequent few years of injecting to approximately 0.05 infections per person-year. There was evidence of a rise in incidence rates for recent initiates between 2011 and 2020 from 0.17 infections per person-year (95 % CI, 0.16–0.19) to 0.26 infections per person-year (0.23–0.30). In those injecting for longer durations, incidence rates were stable over time. ConclusionsFractional polynomials provided an adequate fit with relatively few parameters, but splines may be preferable to ensure flexibility, in particular, to detect short-term changes in the rate of first infection over time that may be a result of treatment effects. Although chronic HCV prevalence has declined with treatment scale up over 2016–2020, there is no evidence yet of a corresponding fall in the rate of first infection. Seroprevalence and risk behaviour data can be used to estimate and monitor HCV incidence, providing insight into progress towards WHO defined elimination of HCV.

Screening for hepatitis C virus at the time of mammography using rapid diagnostic tests in women aged between 50 and 74 years (Mamm'OC NCT05067374).

Chronic hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection presents a global health challenge, with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite remarkable progress in treatment options, achieving elimination targets by 2030, as set by the World Health Organization, remains elusive. Our study aimed to address this gap by integrating HCV screening into a national breast cancer screening program. Between March 2022 and March 2023, a prospective cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in four radiology centers in Montpellier, France. We proposed HCV screening to consecutive women undergoing mammography, targeting 1,500 participants aged 50-74 years. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for HCV antibodies (HCV Ab) was performed on capillary whole blood, with positive cases undergoing serological and RNA confirmation. Participants also completed a questionnaire on demographic data and risk factors. Acceptance rates, HCV prevalence, and linkage to care were assessed. The acceptance rate for this integrated screening approach was 82.4%. Notably, the seroprevalence of HCV was found to be 0.65%. Linkage to care was prompt, and the cascade of care demonstrated successful treatment outcomes. Importantly, the majority of detected infections were successfully resolved. These findings underscore the feasibility and acceptability of integrating HCV screening with breast cancer screening programs providing updated prevalence data and valuable insights for refining future screening strategies.

Prevalence of HBV Co-infections with HCV and HIV among Blood Donors in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Blood is a life-saving resource. Despite the significance of blood transfusion in saving a millions life in emergencies and medical treatment, the safety of blood transfusion faced challenges of transmitting life threatening transfusion transmissible infectious agents such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The study was carried out to determine the sero-prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV and co-infections among blood donors in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A total of five hundred (500) prospective blood donors age ranged from 18 to 60 years attending Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital between May to November, 2019 were recruited for the study. Prospective study was based on questionnaires administered to generate socio-demographics and a 5ml venous blood samples were obtained from each blood donors and the plasma was used for determination of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV using immunoassay rapid test kit (RTK) Diaspot, Belgium and HIV-1 and HIV-2 Determine Alere Medical ,Japan and further tested with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Biorad Monolisa, France). The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV were 4.8%, 1.2% and 1.8% respectively, while co-infections with HBV/ HIV and HBV/HCV were 0.2% and 0.2% respectively and there was no case of triple infections among the blood donors. The incidence rate was high in HBV followed by HIV and HCV. The use of RTK and ELISA for screening of blood donor for HBsAg, anti HCV and HIV in terms of their sensitively and specificity showed that ELISA is more sensitive than RTK while RTK is more specific than ELISA. From the retrospective study age and gender distribution was not statistically significant (P &gt; 0.05). A significance difference was observed between married blood donors and HIV infection (P &lt; 0.05) and also blood donors with history of blood transfusion showed statistical significant to HBV and HCV (P &lt; 0.05). The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infections among blood donors were found to be statistically associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, surgical operation, multiple sex partners and tattooing (P &lt; 0.05). This study shows that the prevalence of HBV infection in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State ,Nigeria was higher than HCV and HIV, hence there is need to increase public awareness of the socio-cultural practices that contribute to the transmission of infection.

Seroprevalence and co-infection of HBV, HCV, and HIV among patients visiting selected hospitals in Anyigba, Kogi State

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remain a public health challenge globally. This study determined the prevalence and coinfection of HBV, HCV, and HIV among patients visiting Maria Goretti Hospital, Grimard Catholic Hospital, and Good News Hospital Anyigba, Kogi State. In a cross-sectional study, sera samples collected from 400 consenting patients were screened for HBV, HCV, and HIV using commercial immunodiagnostic test kits. Of the 400 subjects, 12 (3.0%), 4 (1.0%), and 16 (4.0%) were infected with HBV, HCV, and HIV, respectively. One participant was co-infected with HCV and HIV, while none was simultaneously infected with HBV and HIV. Participants aged 11–20 years had higher hepatitis B-surface antigenemia, while ages 21–30 years and 31–40 years had higher prevalence of HCV and HIV, respectively. Contrary to HBV and HCV positivity, HIV seropositivity was significantly predicted by the ages of exposure (p = 0.002). Males and females were equally infected with HBV (3.0% each), while more males than females were infected with HCV (1.5%) and HIV (4.6%). However, the difference between the occurrence of viral infections and patients’ sex was not significant (p > 0.05). The single participants were more predisposed to HBV while the married subjects had more HCV and HIV mono-infection. However, neither the occurrence of HBV nor HCV or HIV was significantly predicted by the marital status of the individuals (p > 0.05). Subjects with no formal education had a higher positivity rate of HCV and HIV compared to other levels of education, while the tertiary level of education had higher exposure to HBsAg. Occupationally, students were more predisposed to HBV and HCV, while the unemployed participants were more predisposed to HIV. However, neither education nor the occupation of participants was significantly related to any of the viral infections (p > 0.05). Lack of knowledge of disease prevention significantly influenced the occurrence of HBV (p = 0.02), HCV (p = 0.04), and HIV (p = 0.04). Conclusively, the status of HBV, HCV, and HIV infection is low compared with findings of previous epidemiological studies in the area. However, the continuous circulation of the three viral infections and the high disease occurrence in the poorly informed participants suggest the need for increased public health education about infection control and prevention strategies in the area.

Prevalence and Trends of Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and Human Immunodeficiency Viruses Over Half a Decade Among Healthy Blood Donors Across Sindh, Pakistan.

Pakistan has a high prevalence of viral hepatitis andthese transfusion-transmitted illnesses (TTIs) pose a major hazard to the health of patients who need blood transfusions, which has a negative impact on the affordability and accessibility of safe blood products in underfunded or less strengthened healthcare systems. While selecting a donor for blood donation, he/she must be healthy enough to donate 500 mL of whole blood, but some of them who were considered the healthiest community were caught to be reactive while getting screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which reflects the true prevalence of these illnesses in this specific population. To study the seroprevalence and trends of HBV, HCV, and HIV in healthy blood donors of Sindh, Pakistan. Blood donated by healthy donors from Sindh, collected from January 2018 to December 2022, was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) at 185 blood centers running under the umbrella of Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority Pakistan (SBTA). The results of serological screening tests for HBV, HCV, and HIV performed from January 2018 to December 2022revealed a continuously increasing trend of all infections. The total number of blood donations in the blood banks across the province showed a progressive increase from 22,822 donors in 2018 to 937,039 donors in 2022, which is 14.21% of the total increase. Among 4,199,195 donors screened from the said period, 3,821,268 (91%) were replacement donors while only 3,77,927 (9%) were voluntary donors. Among them 3,870,598 (92.2%) were males and only 3,285,97 (7.8%) were females, whereas with regardto donors' age, most of them i.e. 2,664,648 (63%), fallin the 29-39 years age group. Overall, from 2018 to 2022, out of a total of 4,199,195 individuals screened, 81,266 (1.94%) tested positive for HCV, 71,688 (1.7%) tested positive for HBV, and 6,711 (0.15%) tested positive for HIV. The total number of positive cases across all three infections was 159,665 (3.80%). The overall average seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, and anti-HIV among blood donors of 185 blood banks, for five years, was 2.78%, 3.82%, 3.65%, 4.15%, and 4.04%, respectively. The study highlights a concerning increase in the prevalence of HCV, HBV, and HIV among blood donors in Sindh, Pakistan, over the five-year period. It underscores the importance of continued surveillance, prevention, and intervention strategies to address these infections. The recommendations include the promotion of voluntary blood donors and screening of donated blood through a highly sensitive screening assay (nucleic acid testing). There should be centralized blood collection systems having better personnel and equipment, and non-remunerated voluntary blood donations must be strongly encouraged. All these, however, requirestrong political commitment and multisector engagement with comprehensive policy implementation.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of HBV, HCV and HIV among hemodialysis patients: a multicenter cross-sectional study from Damascus Syria

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to determine the prevalence rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among hemodialysis (HD) patients as well as to identify associated risk factors.MethodologyA multicenter cross-sectional study involved patients who had been on HD for at least three months. The study was conducted at five HD centers in Damascus, Syria from August 2019 to September 2021. HBsAg, HCV-Ab and HIV (antibody/antigen) seropositivity were identified using the third generation ELISA technique. Patients’ information was extracted from their records and by face-to-face interview. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to identify risk factors associated with HBV or HCV seropositivity. The significance level was set at 5%.ResultsA total of 637 patients were included in the study with a mean age (SD) of 50.5 (15.6) years and 56.7% of them were men. The dialytic age ranged from one to thirty years with a mean (SD) of 6.10 (5.6) years. The prevalence of positive hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV, co-infection of HBV and HCV, and anti-HIV (antibody/antigen) were 3.2%, 22.1%, 0.7%, and 0%, respectively. After controlling for co-variables, hepatitis B vaccine was the only predictor of seropositivity of HBV (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.057–0.393, P < 0.001), as it significantly protected against contracting HBV. On the other hand, the dialytic age (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12–1.94, P = 0.032) and the dialysis center were significant factors affecting the prevalence of HCV.ConclusionsThe prevalence of HCV and HBV infections among HD patients in Damascus, Syria has decreased remarkably compared with the results from 2001. Nevertheless, it is still considered relatively high. Thus, there is an urgent need to strengthen the prevention and control measures for viral infection transmission in HD centers in Damascus.

Evaluation of Prenatal Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence Using Universal Screening, and Linkage to Care in a Real-World Setting in Ontario

ObjectivesInternational infectious disease/obstetrical societies have recently recommended universal hepatitis C virus (HCV) prenatal screening and these same recommendations are forthcoming in Canada. At present, there is no formal analysis of universal HCV screening or linkage to care of pregnant people in Ontario. The objectives of our study were to determine the seroprevalence of HCV using 2 different methods to evaluate universal screening, as well as identify opportunities that may improve linkage to care. MethodsTo assess seroprevalence in a large urban area, we aimed to test 12 000 de-identified samples submitted for prenatal HIV testing in the catchment area of Toronto Public Health for HCV antibodies. Then, to assess the seroprevalence as well as the operational impact and follow-up in a real-world setting, we completed a Quality Improvement Project (QIP) for 1 year at a large tertiary care obstetrical centre in London, Ontario. ResultsFrom 2019 to 2021, 11 999 de-identified samples were screened from Toronto with a seroprevalence of 0.40 (95% CI 0.29–0.53). In London, 5771 people were screened in 2021 with a seroprevalence of 0.55% (95% CI 0.38–0.78). Taken together, those aged 26–35 years had the highest positivity; in the QIP, 9% had no documented risk factor, and 59% of individuals were not linked to the next step in HCV care. ConclusionsHCV prenatal seroprevalence in Ontario is comparable to hepatitis B virus, and ∼15–30-fold higher than HIV. Diagnosis in pregnancy is critical to facilitate referrals for treatment between pregnancies and could increase screening among children born to positive women.