Seroprevalence Of Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies Research Articles

Gender differences in prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Egypt: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Egypt is the country with the highest known hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence worldwide. The origin of gender differences in HCV prevalence is not usually well understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review and evaluate the gender differences in HCV infection rates amongst Egyptians. Such data would be important to support prevention and control programs aiming to minimize HCV-related morbidity and mortality. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) were searched for relevant articles published from 1st January 2011 to 13th December 2021, using the search terms (HCV OR “hepatitis C” OR hepacivirus) AND (prevalence OR seroprevalence OR epidemiology OR incidence OR magnitude). At first, retrieved articles were screened, and then relevant data were extracted and analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Out of 616 studies from databases, only 30 were included after the full-text screening, with 193,621 included participants: 97,597 male and 96,024 female. The overall seroprevalence of HCV antibodies in all included studies was 0.02 (CI − 0.23 to 0.28), with no significant difference between males and females. However, HCV RNA positivity was significantly more prevalent in males than females in adults and the general population (after excluding high-risk groups). In children, no statistically significant differences between males and females were found in the seroprevalence of HCV antibodies nor in the prevalence of PCR positivity. HCV RNA positivity is significantly higher in males than females in adults, while there are no gender differences in children.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in ColombiaEpidemiologia da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite C na Colômbia

RESUMENObjetivo.Describir la epidemiología de la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC) en Colombia.Métodos.Revisión crítica de los estudios de epidemiología de la infección por VHC en Colombia mediante búsqueda de artículos originales y revisiones de tema publicados en el período 1989 a 2020 en las bases de datos PubMed, SciELO y ScienceDirect. Además, se revisaron los informes del Instituto Nacional de Salud y de la Cuenta de Alto Costo del Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social.Resultados.Los datos de seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-VHC en donantes de sangre están en un rango de 1,5% a 0,32%, que corresponden a los informes del inicio y el final del período de estudio, respectivamente. En la población con factores de riesgo se observa una alta prevalencia de infección por VHC, aunque con variaciones a lo largo del tiempo. Con respecto a los genotipos de VHC en Colombia, se han identificado los genotipos 1, 2, 3 y 4 (subgenotipos 1a, 1b, 2a y 3a).Conclusiones.En el período de observación, se describe una disminución en la seroprevalencia de la infección por VHC en donantes de sangre y en pacientes en tratamiento con hemodiálisis en Colombia, lo que demuestra el impacto de las políticas de sangre segura y las medidas de bioseguridad. Los estudios en personas que usan drogas ilícitas por vía inyectable indican una alta prevalencia de infección, con diferencias según la región del país. El genotipo 1, subgenotipo 1b, del VHC es el más frecuente en los distintos estudios realizados en Colombia, y el informe más reciente de la Cuenta de Alto Costo del Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social señala que el genotipo 4 es el segundo genotipo más frecuente en el país.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Blood Donors in General Dipumba Hospital in Mbujimayi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Hepatitis C virus is one of the blood borne transmissible infections of public healthsignificance. It can be transmitted to a wider population through transfusion of contaminatedblood or blood products. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HCV antibodies amongst potential blood donors in Dipumba’s hospital in Mbujimayi. Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study of seroprevalence of hepatitis C were conducted from consented blood donors in the study area and were examined for anti-HCV antibody using HCVSCAN test. Results were analyzed using SPSS version, 23.0 statistical software Package of the 1584 blood donors examined in the study population 1, 9 % (n= 30) were sero-positive to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), 77.8% were male (sex ratio M/F 3.5 and familial donors were 50.4%. No statistical significant association with the seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus and general characteristics of blood donors in Mbujimayi (age, sex, marital status, blood donation category). Our findings further confirm the presence of hepatitis C virusinfection among blood donors in Mbujimayi. Routine HCV screening of blood donors is therefore recommendedin order to reduce the risk of post transfusion hepatitis C. Keyword: Seroprevalence; hepatitis C; blood donors; Mbujimayi

Prevalence of hepatitis C Antibody in Human Immunodeficiency Virus infected children

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem for Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected population. Both infections share same routes of transmission, and quite often co-exist, with dual infections associated with reciprocal and mutually more rapid progression than either infection alone. Co-infection also adversely impacts on the course and management of both infections. This study was carried out to document the prevalence and determinants of HCV sero-positivity in HIVinfected children.Methodology: A total of 132 HIVinfected children attending the Paediatric Antiretroviral Clinic were recruited as subjects. Another 132 HIV negative children matched for age and sex were recruited as controls. Relevant demographic data was taken from each child. Blood samples were also obtained from each child and from their mothers when available, and assayed for the presence of anti-HCV using a membranebased immune-assay kit.Results: The sero-prevalence of HCV antibodies was 9.8% among HIV-infected children and 3.0% among the controls. This was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.042, Fisher exact). HCV sero-postivity was more frequent in children after 5 years of age in both subjects (92.3%) and controls (100.0%). Injection at patent medicine vendor (PMV) was noted to be the most risky practice leading to HCV in children, with more than thrice the chances of HCV sero-positivity than in those who didn’t receive injections at PMV. Four mothers of the HIV-infected children were co-infected with HCV and none in the control group. All 4 children of these dually infected mothers were also co-infected. Controlling for other factors, children of HIV infected mothers were more than twice as likely to have HCV antibody as children whose mothers were HIV negative (RR = 2.67). Similarly, HCV infected mothers have 12% greater chance of transmitting HCV to their children than noninfected mothers and children delivered vaginally were 1.6 times more likely to have HCV antibody than those delivered via caesarean section.Conclusions: The prevalence of anti-HCV in HIV-infected children is significantly higher than that of HIV uninfected peers. Factors strongly associated with HCV sero -positivity identified are maternal HIV and HCV infections, vaginal delivery and injections at patent medicine vendor.Keywords: HCV; HIV; children

Prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies in the population aged 16-80 years in the Community of Madrid 2008-2009.

Together with AIDS, the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Spain heads the list of communicable diseases in terms of impact on public health. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HCV antibodies in the Community of Madrid, assess changes in recent years and analyse associated risk factors. Descriptive cross-sectional study of a target population consisting of Community of Madrid residents aged 16-80 years old. Two-stage cluster sampling was performed, with stratification by socioeconomic status and percentage immigrant population. The sampling frame consisted of public blood extraction centers attached to the Madrid Health Service. Seroprevalence of HCV antibodies, prevalence ratios by age groups in comparison with 1999 survey data and prevalence association with risk factors were assessed using a logistic regression model. Prevalence of HCV antibodies for the age group 16-80 years was 1.8% (95% CI: 1.3-2.5). The age group with the highest prevalence was 41-60 years. In comparison with the 1999 survey, prevalence fell for the age groups 21-30 and 31-40 years and increased for the age group 41-60. Statistically significant associations were found for age, education, history of hepatitis C and consultation regarding liver problems. Seroprevalence of HCV antibodies in the Community of Madrid is similar to that shown in other regions of Spain. It is increasing in older age groups as the population at risk ages. Incidence of hepatitis C may be decreasing considering the decrease in the seroprevalence in the population younger than 40 related to the previous serosurvey.

Seroprevalencia de la hepatitis C en adultos de México: ¿un problema de salud pública emergente?

Objective. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is becoming a chronic disease in 60-85% of individuals and is a cause of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of this study was to report the seroprevalence of HCV infection in a probabilistic sample of the Mexican population. Material and Methods. This study is based on information obtained from the National Health Survey conducted in 2000. A total of 21 271 sera randomly selected for anti-HCV and RNA of HCV was studied. It was performed at the National Institute of Public Health in 2005. Results. Seroprevalence of HCV antibodies was 1.4% (IC95% 1.1%-1.6%), of which 35.7% had active infection. Risk factors for infection were using heroine (RM= 9.8, IC: 2.1-41.4), being separated from his/her spouse (RM= 2.6, IC: 1.1-5.9), being a widower (RM= 2.2, IC: 1.1-4.3) and living in the northern states in the country (RM= 1.9, IC: 1.1-3.2). Conclusion. Results from this study indicate that HCV is an emerging public health problem in Mexico. Risk factors indicate that the main route of transmission is through transfusion of blood products (previous to 1996) and the second route is through usage of intravenous drugs and sexual practices.

The risk of transfusion-acquired hepatitis-C virus infection among blood donors in Port Harcourt: the question of blood safety in Nigeria.

This study was undertaken to establish the sero-epidemology of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antibodies among blood donors in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. One Thousand Five Hundred consecutive blood donors presenting to the blood transfusion unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January and April, 2003 comprising of 1481 males and 19 females were screened for hepatitis C antibodies using the commercially available Clinotech anti-HCV test strips. All initially positive samples were subsequently tested using a second-generation Trinity Biotec enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. HCV antibodies were detected in 7 (0.5%) of donors. Although statistically not significant, the overall sero prevalence of HCV antibodies was higher in males 7 (0.5%) compared to zero prevalence among females. (chi-squared = 1.94, p = 1.000). Commercial remunerated donors had a higher prevalence of anti-HCV anti-bodies 5 (0.8%) compared to family replacement donors (0.2%) (chi-squared = 1.25, p = 0.26). The highest infection rate occurred in the 18 - 27 years age group 7 (0.7%). This study shows a 0.5% prevalence of HCV antibodies among blood donors and describes their demographic characteristics. This calls for urgent implementation of a universal donor screening for HCV antibodies and setting up of a national blood transfusion service run on the basis of voluntary, non-remunerated low risk donors.

High prevalence of hepatitis C infection in a Brazilian prison: identification of risk factors for infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes infectious hepatitis worldwide. It is transmitted mainly by blood products and sharing of intravenous paraphernalia during illicit drug use. High prevalence rates have been described among specific groups considered to be at higher risk for HCV infection, including prison inmates. The objectives of this study were: to determine the HCV seroprevalence among inmates of Casa de Detenção de São Paulo; to identify risk factors for HCV infection; and to compare the seroprevalence of HCV to other blood borne or sexually transmitted diseases. From December, 1993, to January, 1994, a total of 779 inmates were interviewed to collect information on sociodemographic status, sexual behavior, and past experience with illicit drugs. Blood samples were obtained from 756 inmates for serological tests. 310 (41%) blood samples were positive for anti-HCV, 425 (56.2%) were negative, and 21 (2.8%) showed indeterminate results. In this population, we found a seroprevalence of 13.7% for HIV, 3.3% for syphilis (VDRL), and 68.1% for hepatitis B virus previous infection. Four variables were each identified as associated with a positive anti-HCV serologic test: a positive VDRL (OR = 2.63 IC 95% 1.08 to 6.36); a time of current imprisonment longer than 130 months (OR = 2.44 IC 95% 1.04 to 5.71); previous incarceration at Casa de Detenção de São Paulo (OR = 1.73 IC 95% 1.19 to 2.52) and; illicit drug use before admission to the Casa de Detenção de São Paulo (OR = 1.64 IC 95% 1.15 to 2.33). The seroprevalence of HCV antibodies among the study population was high (41%), indeed, one of the highest clusters of HCV infection recorded until now. Four variables were each shown to be associated with HCV infection. The simultaneous presence of these 4 variables is associated with an 82% probability of being anti-HCV positive. Although risk factor analysis indicates most HCV infections occur prior to inprisonment, initiation of control measures to prevent continued transmission after incarceration should be done.

Spread of hepatitis C virus among sexual partners of HCVAb positive intravenous drug users

Recent studies suggest that the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCVAb) among sexual partners of those who are HCVAb positive is higher than in the general population. Moreover some studies seem to indicate that transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurs more readily when there is HIV infection in the couple. We studied the prevalence of HCVAb seropositivity among the regular sexual partners of 84 HCVAb positive intravenous drug users (IVDUs), by means of ELISA confirmed by radio immuno-adsorbent assay, 11 generation (RIBA II). The couples were subdivided into three groups: group 1: 30 HIV negative IVDUs and their HIV negative partners (HIV-/HIV-); group 2: 47 HIV positive IVDUs and their HIV negative partners (HIV+/HIV-); group 3: seven HIV positive IVDUs and their HIV positive partners (HIV+/HIV+). The seroprevalence of HCVAb among the partners of IVDUs was 28.6% in the couples of group 3, 12.8% in the couples of group 2 and no partner was positive among the couples of group 1. There was no statistically significant difference in HCV transmission between the couples who never used a condom and those who always used one. The couples of group 1 never used a condom. We found HCVAb seropositivity only in the partners who were in couples in whom HIV was present. We did not demonstrate that sexual intercourse is a means of HCV transmission because none of the HIV-/HIV- couples of group 1 used a condom and no partner was HCVAb positive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)