Detection of hepatitis C virus-specific antigens in semen from non-A, non-B hepatitis patients.
Semen samples from nine patients clinically diagnosed as having non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) were tested by an ELISA using antibodies raised in rabbits against HCV-specific antigens. The semen from all nine patients had elevated levels of HCV-specific antigen in comparison to semen from five healthy donors. Semen from five of the nine patients had significant levels of the HCV-specific antigen. Seven of the eight serum samples from these patients were reactive with the standard C-100 HCV ELISA. Eight of these nine patients had serum reactive for HCV-specific antibodies in our ELISA using HCV-specific antigens. This more direct evidence for viral presence supports the earlier epidemiological data suggesting that HCV could be transmitted sexually.
Kotwal
G J
GJ
Division of Molecular Virology, James N. Gamble Institute of Medical Research, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219.
Rustgi
V K
VK
Baroudy
B M
BM
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D000956:Antigens, Viral; C064544:C100 protein, hepatitis C virus; D000939:Epitopes; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins