Lack of evidence of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus in a prospective cohort study of men who have sex with men.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the ongoing Omega Cohort Study of men who have sex with men (MSM).


METHODS
From January to September 2001, consenting men (n = 1085) attending a follow-up visit to the ongoing Omega Cohort Study were tested for HCV. If the test results were positive for HCV, we compared them with test results from previous serum samples collected from the time of entry into the original cohort study to determine the time of infection.


RESULTS
HCV prevalence at entry was 2.9% and was strongly associated with injection drug use (32.9% vs 0.3%, P<.0001). Only 1 seroconversion was identified in 2653 person-years of follow-up (incidence rate = 0.038 per 100 person-years). The seroconverter was an active injection drug user who reported needle sharing.


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual transmission of HCV among MSM appears to be rare.
Alary
Michel
M
FRCPC, MSPH, MBA, Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, 20045 chemin Sainte-Marie, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3R5 Canada.
Joly
Jean R
JR
Vincelette
Jean
J
Lavoie
René
R
Turmel
Bruno
B
Remis
Robert S
RS
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
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