Tear fluid of hepatitis C virus carriers could be infectious.
For up to 20 to 40% of patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), the mode of transmission is still unknown. We demonstrate that tear fluid contains HCV RNA-carrying material with the properties of infectious virus and conclude that smear infection with tear fluid may play a role in HCV transmission.
Feucht
H H
HH
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Zöllner
B
B
Schröter
M
M
Altrogge
H
H
Laufs
R
R
D002353:Carrier State / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013666:Tears / Q000821:virology*
D012367:RNA, Viral