Hepatis C virus transmission and its risk factors within families of patients infected with hepatitis C virus in southern Iran: Khuzestan.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of index cases increases intrafamilial transmission (sexual and nonsexual contacts) of HCV.


METHODS
In a case-control descriptive study we enrolled 300-household contacts of 60 index cases (40 males and 20 females) of HCV infection and 360 pair-matched controls in Ahwaz JundiShapour University Hospitals from August 1, 1998 to September 1, 2003. The control group consisted of first time blood donors referred to the Regional Blood Transfusion Organization. Serum samples and demographic data and a medical history including the existence of risk factors for HCV (after a questionnaire on the risk factors for parenteral exposure) were obtained from each subject. Antibodies to HCV were detected employing a commercially available second-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA, Abbott II). Positive serum specimens were retested using a second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-2) and a polymerase chain reaction for HCV RNA. Data analysis was carried out for intra-household clustering.


RESULTS
Only 4 of 300 (1.33%) cases of household contacts without percutaneous risk factors were positive for HCV Ab while the remaining 296 family contacts were negative for anti-HCV. The mean age of the index cases was 28.4 (Std 15.22) years. The anti-HCV prevalences in parents, spouses, children of the index cases were 0.87% (1/115), 3.39% (2/59)) and 0.79% (1/126), respectively. Among couple partners negative for anti-HCV antibodies, the mean duration of the sexual relationship was 6 years. The two-couple partners positive for anti-HCV antibodies married the index cases for longer than 15 years. The prevalence of positive HCV Ab among household contacts (1.33%) was not significantly higher than that in the controls (1%) (P > 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Intrafamilial transmission of HCV is not the significant transmission route and sexual transmission does not seem to play a role in the intrafamilial spread of HCV infection. Intrafamilial transmission of HCV is possible but occurs at a low rate.
Hajiani
Eskandar
E
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Golestan Hospital, Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 89, Ahwaz, Iran. ehajiani@ajums.ac.ir
Masjedizadeh
Rahim
R
Hashemi
Jalal
J
Azmi
Mehrdad
M
Rajabi
Tahereh
T
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
D000914:Antibodies, Viral