title: Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in different populations in Taiwan.
abstract: The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was investigated among different populations in Taiwan, where anti-HCV was detected in 0.8% (24/2,994) of adult volunteer blood donors, 0.1% (1/1,305) of youngsters and children, 12.5% (8/64) of adult volunteer blood donors with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 36.5% (23/63) of hemodialysis patients, 4.1% (13/318) of male homosexuals, 25.4% (16/63) of cases positive for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), 82.2% (578/703) of intravenous drug users (IVDUs), and 10.3% (23/223) of female prostitutes (FPs). Among patients with chronic liver diseases including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the overall prevalence rate for anti-HCV was 34.1% (42/123), and a higher prevalence was noted in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative cases than in HBsAg-positive cases. The prevalence of anti-HCV in volunteer blood donors and high prevalence found in IVDUs, hemodialysis patients, anti-HIV positive cases, and FPs are consistent with those results from other countries. These findings suggest that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is transmitted by both blood-borne and sexual contact routes. Among flavivirus infections, anti-HCV was detected in 0.3% (1/289) and 1.3% (4/310) of Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever patients, respectively. In conclusion, in Taiwan, an area with high endemicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the epidemiological status of HCV infection is similar to that observed in other countries, and no serum cross-reactivity was noticed between HCV and flavivirus infections.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taipei, R.O.C.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014036:Togaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies