Low risk of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus in Somalia.
The prevalence in Somalia of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was determined in a survey of 236 female prostitutes, 80 sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic patients, 79 male soldiers, and 43 tuberculosis patients. Of 98 (22%) serum samples repeatedly anti-HCV reactive by first and second generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, only 8 (1.8%) were anti-HCV positive by immunoblot assay (RIBA-2). Anti-HCV seropositivity by immunoblot assay was not associated with any risk group or with positive syphilis serology (found in 18% of subjects) or antibody to human immunodeficiency virus 1 (in 1.4% of subjects). These data indicate that sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus is not common in Somalia among sexually active populations, including female prostitutes and other groups at high risk of STDs and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Watts
D M
DM
Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20852.
Corwin
A L
AL
Omar
M A
MA
Hyams
K C
KC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012998:Somalia / Q000453:epidemiology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies