Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies among teenagers in the Venetian area: a seroepidemiological study.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the prevalence of circulating anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies and investigate hepatitis B virus serology, in adolescents in Chioggia (Venitia), Italy.


METHODS
We conducted a population based survey of 1,015 fourteen-year-old school children, 529 boys and 486 girls. All were testing for hepatitis C antibodies with second generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Four immunoblotting tests were used to confirm positive ELISA tests. Hepatitis B (HB) markers, HBs, anti-HBs and anti-HBc, were tested with commercial ELISA kits.


RESULTS
Fourteen children were positive for anti-HCV antibodies, after confirmation with four immunoblotting tests. No significant difference was seen between the prevalence rate in males (0.41%) and females (0.38%) or between urban (0.43%) or rural (0.31%) dwellers. A significant variation of rate (12.5% to 0.2%) was seen in subjects with or without previous HBV infection. A positive relationship between age and prevalence of antibodies to HCV was noted, suggesting a late acquisition of infection in our district. Nine subjects had had a history of apparent parenteral exposure and only 1 was anti-HCV positive. Among HCV positive subjects only 25% had a history positive for parenteral exposure.
Gessoni
G
G
Transfusional Service Chioggia Community Hospital, Venice, Italy.
Manoni
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies