title: Hepatitis C among risk groups for HIV and hepatitis B.
abstract: In order to obtain more information on sexual transmission of hepatitis C (HCV) we compared different high-risk groups for HIV and hepatitis B to see if they were seropositive for HCV. A high seroprevalence (38/81) of hepatitis C (HCV) was found among intravenous drug users. Nursing staff (n = 35) and patients of a dialysis unit (n = 57) had a low prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies (0% and 5%, respectively). Serology laboratory technicians also had a very low prevalence (0% out of 29). Among prostitutes (n = 114), healthy homosexual men (n = 132) and HIV-infected homosexual men (n = 31), we found a remarkably low seroprevalence of HCV (3.5%, 0.8% and 0.0% respectively). These data support the view that parenteral exposure to the virus is the most important way of acquiring the infection and that neither heterosexual nor homosexual promiscuity are associated with a high risk of transmission of hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Bacteriology and Virology, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanderschueren
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Renterghem
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plum
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verhofstede
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vincke
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000635:transmission; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies