title: Detection of HCV RNA in serum and seminal fluid from HIV-1 co-infected intravenous drug addicts.
abstract: The presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum and seminal fluid was investigated in eleven drug addicts coinfected with HIV-1 and HCV. Serum and seminal fluid were taken from each patient at the same time point. HCV RNA was found in ten of the eleven serum samples tested, but only in one of the semen samples. No relationship was observed between CD4 cell counts, the stage of HIV infection, extent of liver damage and the presence of HCV RNA in serum and semen. The results indicate that HCV is not usually present in the semen and provide further evidence against sexual transmission as an important mode of transmission of HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Appice
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DiStefano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: LaGrasta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DiBari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pastore
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D017931:DNA Primers; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral