A serosurvey of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human T lymphotropic virus type-1 and syphilis in HIV-1-infected patients in Jamaica.
The seroprevalences of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) and syphyilis were determined in 129 HIV-1-infected patients using commercially prepared reagents. The seroprevalences were HCV, 0% (0/129); HBV, 37% (48/129); HTLV-1, 5% (6/129) and syphilis, 20% (26/129). Fifteen per cent (19/129) of the patients had active/chronic HBV infection. The seroprevalence of HBV was statistically significantly higher in HIV-1 infected men (24/49, 50% versus 17/80, 21%; p = 0.005), while the seroprevalence of syphilis was statistically significantly increased in HIV-1 infected patients in the over-40 age group (10/31, 32% versus 6/53, 11%; p = 0.05). These findings throw the spotlight on HBV infection and syphilis and suggest that these two sexually transmitted infections should be carefully surveyed in patients with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica. It is essential for management protocols in Jamaica to include screening for evidence of these co-infections.
Smikle
M F
MF
Departments of Microbiology and Medicine and Centre for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Services, University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies. msmikle@uwimona.edu.jm
Heslop
O
O
Vickers
I
I
Dowe
G
G
Deer
D
D
Sue-Ho
R
R
Denbow
C E
CE
St C Morgan
O
O
Bain
B
B
Barton
E N
EN
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens