Prevalence of second generation antibody to hepatitis C virus among voluntary blood donors in Osaka, Japan.
To clarify the demographic characteristics of the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Osaka, Japan, where hepatocellular carcinoma is common, we investigated the screening data of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV, DAINABOTHCVPHA, second generation assay) in 197,600 voluntary blood donors residing in Osaka. The study found that age-standardized prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly higher than that of HBsAg (2.25 cf 0.86 percent among males, P < 0.001; 2.17 cf 0.55 percent among females, P < 0.001. It was much higher in the blood donors aged 55-64 years than in those aged 16-54 years (8.49 cf 1.32 percent among males, P < 10(-5); 7.26 cf 1.42 percent among females, P < 10(-5)). The prevalence of anti-HCV among males was significantly higher than that of females in the younger (25-34 years) generations (1.02 to 1.49 percent cf 0.71 to 1.13 percent, P < 0.05). A similar tendency was observed in the prevalence of high-titer (> or = 2(12)) anti-HCV. The number of coinfection (both HBsAg and anti-HCV seropositive) was very small, and it was not statistically different from the expected number.
Tanaka
H
H
Department of Field Research, Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
Hiyama
T
T
Tsukuma
H
H
Okubo
Y
Y
Yamano
H
H
Kitada
A
A
Fujimoto
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens