Epidemiology and hepatitis C virus in Victoria.
Parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis virus or hepatitis C virus is a common cause of both acute and chronic hepatitis. Using a recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay we looked at the prevalence of antibodies to hepatis C virus (anti-HCV) in a number of groups. People with haemophilia (75.6%) and intravenous drug users (61.9%) had the highest prevalence, while homosexual men attending a sauna (34.1%) and prisoners (30.8%) had a moderately high prevalence of anti-HCV. A lower prevalence of antibody was detected in female prostitutes (10.4%), institutionalised mentally retarded subjects (9.5%), homosexual men requesting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing through their local doctor (8.8%), dialysis patients (5.9%), renal transplant patients (6.9%), and patients referred from a sexually transmitted diseases clinic (6.2%). The lowest prevalence of anti-HCV was recorded in women attending a provincial hospital for antenatal care (0.4%). The predominance of anti-HCV in groups of people exposed to blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections suggests that these routes may be primarily involved in the spread of hepatitis C virus infection.
Fairley
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CK
Fairfield Hospital, Vic.
Leslie
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DE
Nicholson
S
S
Gust
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ID
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000276:immunology; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies