Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Africa: anti-HCV antibodies in the general population and in patients suffering from cirrhosis or primary liver cancer.
Anti-hepatitis-C-virus (anti-HCV) antibody was tested for in sera from 410 adults living in Tunisia, Senegal, Burundi and Madagascar, and in 209 Tunisian and Senegalese patients suffering from liver diseases. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 4.2% of the adult population from Africa, in 51% of patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and in 37% of patients suffering from primary liver cancer. However, higher proportions of anti-HCV antibodies were detected in HBsAg+ patients than in HBsAg- patients. To assess the role of HCV in the development of both cirrhosis and primary liver cancer, a confirmation test is needed.
Coursaget
P
P
Institut de Virologie de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, France.
Bourdil
C
C
Kastally
R
R
Yvonnet
B
B
Rampanarivo
Z
Z
Chiron
J P
JP
Bao
O
O
Diop-Mar
I
I
Perrin
J
J
Ntarème
F
F
D000349:Africa; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies