title: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in north-eastern Brazil: a population-based study.
abstract: In general, the prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are estimated based on the ambulatory clinic or hospital population. In the present work, a population-based study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection in Salvador, Brazil. A total of 1308 serum samples were collected from 30 "sentinel areas", and the prevalence of HCV infection was determined by ELISA and confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay and RT-PCR. The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 1.5% (20/1308). Prevalence was greater among those aged 35 years or older and those with more education. Genotype 3 was the most common (53.3%), followed by genotypes 1 (40%) and 2 (6.7%). These observations are different from those found in a prior survey of hospital and ambulatory patients in Salvador, who were most frequently infected with genotype 1, followed by genotypes 3 and 2, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz da FIOCRUZ, R. Waldemar Falcão 121, Brotas, 40295-001 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Alice S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zarife
authors.forename: Luciano K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria Betânia S
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Gisele B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Maurício L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Maria da Glória
authors.initials: Mda G
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dourado
authors.forename: Mitermayer G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral