title: Hepatitis C virus antibodies among risk groups in a South African area endemic for hepatitis B virus.
abstract: The prevalence of anti-HCV was studied in a South African area endemic for hepatitis B virus. A total of 35,685 volunteer blood donors (22,034 whites, 9,218 Asians, 3,077 Africans, 1,356 coloureds), 71 haemophiliacs, 84 chronic dialysis patients, 100 antenatal attenders, 212 nurses, and 20 HIV-positive male homosexuals were tested for anti-HCV. Repeat positive second generation Ortho HCV EIA was used to determine HCV status for the blood donors; Abbott-II HCV EIA combined with a neutralisation test was used for the other risk groups. Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was also tested in the haemophiliacs, nurses, and chronic dialysis patients. Seroprevalence for the blood donor population was 0.16, 0.34, 0.75, and 0.22% for whites, Asians, Africans, and coloureds, respectively. Of the risk groups tested, 39.4% of haemophiliacs and 4.8% of chronic dialysis patients were positive; of the remainder tested none was positive. Fifty percent of nurses, 47.9% of haemophiliacs, and 22.6% of dialysis patients had serological evidence of past exposure to hepatitis B virus (anti-HBc positive). These findings indicate a low prevalence of anti-HCV in the blood donor population, thus probably resulting in a low prevalence in groups exposed to blood and blood derivatives. The overall difference in prevalence between the race groups was significant (P < 0.0001). The high prevalence of hepatitis B virus compared to the low prevalence of HCV suggests that the main modes of transmission of the two viruses are probably different.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Unit, University of Natal, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Tait
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kenoyer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandes-Costa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naicker
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gopaul
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Simjee
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People; D001782:Blood Donors; D003956:Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D005006:Ethnicity; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies