title: Intrafamily spread of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Using the second generation ELISA test, we studied the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among 159 household contacts of 86 anti-HCV positive subjects (index cases). Fourteen (8.8%) relatives were found anti-HCV positive, a rate higher than the corresponding figure reported among the general population in the same area. The prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly higher among sexual partners than among household contacts without sexual relations with the index case (18% vs. 3.1%; P < 0.01). These findings indicate that sexual transmission may be the main route for intrafamily HCV spread.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, ULS 10/D, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moschitta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balocchini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chionne
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapicetta
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies