Quantitation of hepatitis C virus RNA in saliva and serum of patients coinfected with HCV and human immunodeficiency virus.
The presence and the quantity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA were investigated in saliva and serum of patients infected with both HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Paired serum and saliva samples were collected from 59 HIV-HCV coinfected patients. HCV RNA was detected by nested-PCR, using primers derived from the 5' non-coding region of HCV, and positive results were quantified using the b-DNA method. HCV RNA was detected in the saliva of 22/59 (37.3%) patients, with a mean level of 1.15 x 10(6) genome equivalents/ml; there was no correlation of salivary positivity with immune status (CD4 cell count), age or HIV risk group, but there was with gender (19/38 [50%] positive results in male, compared to 3/21 [14.3%] in female, P = 0.007). HCV RNA was detected in the serum of 45/59 (76.3%) patients at a higher level (mean of 2.52 x 10(7) genome equivalents/ml) compared to saliva. Positivity was not correlated with age, gender or CD4 + cell count. There was a correlation between qualitative saliva and serum results (P = 0.003), but not between quantifications (P = 0.57). This first study reporting significant amounts of HCV RNA in saliva could have important implications for HCV epidemiology.
Rey
D
D
Centre d'Informations et de Soins de l'Immunodéficience Humaine, Clinique Médicale A, Hôpitaux Universitaires, Strasbourg, France. david.rey@chru-strasbourg.fr
Fritsch
S
S
Schmitt
C
C
Meyer
P
P
Lang
J M
JM
Stoll-Keller
F
F
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology*
D012367:RNA, Viral