High rate of hepatitis C virus infection and predominance of genotype 4 among elderly inhabitants of a remote village of the rain forest of South Cameroon.
To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and genotype distribution in a rural isolated area of Central Africa, plasma of 409 Bantous (mean age, 32 years; range, 2-78 years) living in a remote village of the rain forest of Southern Cameroon was screened for anti-HCV antibodies. HCV seropositive samples were also subjected to qualitative detection of viral RNA. HCV antibodies were detected in 70 (17.1%) individuals, 48 (68.8%) of whom had detectable viremia. The seroprevalence did not differ by gender (P = 0.37), but increased significantly with age (P < 0.05), with a strong increase in the oldest age groups. Indeed, nearly one-half (48%) of the adults >50 years old were HCV seropositive. The characterization of the viral genotypes indicated that most of the HCV strains were of genotype 4 (76%), while genotype 2 (16%), and 1 (8%) were marginally represented. The results suggest a cohort effect with an old, possibly iatrogenic, group exposure rather than a continuous exposure. A more in-depth population-based epidemiological study is needed to address this issue further.
Njouom
Richard
R
Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroun, France.
Pasquier
Christophe
C
Ayouba
Ahidjo
A
Gessain
Antoine
A
Froment
Alain
A
Mfoupouendoun
Jermie
J
Pouillot
Regis
R
Dubois
Martine
M
Sandres-Sauné
Karine
K
Thonnon
Jocelyn
J
Izopet
Jacques
J
Nerrienet
Eric
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012424:Rural Population; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014197:Trees; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral