title: Prevalence and genotype of hepatitis C virus infection in pregnant women and blood donors in Ghana.
abstract: The seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus was evaluated in blood donors and antenatal clinic attenders in Kumasi, Ghana and seropositive subjects were tested for hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The overall seroprevalence among Ghanaians was 2.8% but there was a significantly higher prevalence in males (4.6%) than in females (1.0%). No risk factor for infection was identified by a questionnaire. Among those who showed evidence of active infection with a positive PCR, the most common genotype was type 2 but the subtype could not be specifically determined; these type 2 hepatitis C viruses may be indigenous to Africa.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK. wansbrou@sghms.ac.uk
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wansbrough-Jones
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frimpong
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cant
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Teo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires