title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Virologie de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coursaget
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourdil
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kastally
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yvonnet
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rampanarivo
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chiron
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Diop-Mar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ntarème
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies