Comparison of prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in differing South American populations.
Very little is known about the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) within South America. To assess the exposure of the general population to this virus, a number of sera obtained from three distinct geographical and racial groups were screened using a combination of immunoassays. Initial screening was undertaken with an inhouse immunoassay (core-ELISA) using synthetic peptides based on the N-terminus of the HCV core protein. Sera which were repeatedly positive by core-ELISA were also assessed using a commercial third-generation assay. The highest prevalence rate (2.3%) was seen in sera taken from the Tumaco region of Colombia. Lower rates were found in sera taken from La T, Ecuador (0.7%) and Las Majadas, Venezuela (0.7%). This indicates significantly different prevalence in different racial and geographical groups within the region.
Instituto de Inmunología, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia.
J W
JW
Robinson
M
M
Rosas
F
F
Guzman
M E
ME
Patarroyo
A
A
Moreno
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008403:Mass Screening; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus