title: High prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a Cameroon rural forest area.
abstract: Sera of 807 people living in a rural forest area in southern Cameroon were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; 101 (12.5%) gave positive results and were confirmed by line immunoassay. There was a highly significant difference between subjects aged over 40 years and those under 40 years, with the former having a much higher prevalence of antibodies. There were also significant differences between antibody prevalences among subjects aged > 40 years in the 3 ethnic groups studied--Baka Pygmies (6%), Fangs (30%) and Boulous (44%). Further studies are necessary to determine the reasons for these differences.
authors.affiliation: Organisation de Coordination pour la Lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maubert
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Le Hesran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kemmegne
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delaporte
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Louis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies