Detection of HCV-RNA in saliva of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Previous studies have provided conflicting results on the presence of hepatitis C virus-RNA in saliva. In this study, 23 (62%) of 37 patients tested positive for hepatitis C virus-RNA in saliva, using polymerase chain reaction analysis. A slightly greater proportion had a sporadic rather than a parenteral origin of chronic hepatitis C. These results provide a biological basis for saliva as a possible source of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but do not necessarily imply transmission by this route.
Hepatogastroenterology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Pessac, France.
P
P
Couzigou
L
L
Richard
F
F
Dumas
L
L
Schouler
H
H
Fleury
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*
D012367:RNA, Viral