title: Seroprevalence of HIV and HCV infections in Alexandria, Egypt.
abstract: During the years 1992-1994, we tested 948 individuals from different population groups for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections by ELISA and WB and for HCV infection by ELISA. Repeated ELISA reactivity for HIV was found in 2.12% of blood donors, 2.95% of fire brigade personnel and 1.61% of prisoners. Western blotting studies, however, showed that these samples were non-reactive or indeterminate to either HIV-1 or HIV-2. In contrast, anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 39% of fire brigade personnel, 31.4% of prisoners and 20.8% of blood donors. The analysis of risk factors for acquiring HCV infection showed a strong association between a past history of parenteral therapy for schistosomiasis and anti-HCV seropositivity (p < 0.0001). The implementation of preventive strategies is at the moment the mandatory choice to stop a further spread of the HCV infection. Meanwhile the same preventive measures could avoid spreading of the HIV disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quinti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Renganathan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: El Ghazzawi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Divizia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sawaf
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pana
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004534:Egypt; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies