title: Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Amerindians from Western Venezuela.
abstract: Previous studies have not found hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Amerindians from Western Venezuela. A survey of 254 Bari and Yukpa natives aged 10-60 years (mean +/- SD age = 35 +/- 5.4 years) from four communities, two Bari and two Yukpa, in this area were studied to assess the prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and HCV RNA among these indigenous populations. Serum samples were examined initially for anti-HCV by a four generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reactive samples were then tested using a third generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-3). Viral RNA was investigated in all immunoblot-reactive samples by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Six (2.3%) of 254 natives were positive by ELISA, one (2.2%) of these reactive samples were positive by RIBA, and four (1.5%) were indeterminate. Only two (0.8%) were positive by PCR, corresponding to 1 (2.1%) of 47 inhabitants of a Yukpa community and to 1 (2.2%) of 45 subjects of a Bari community. Iatrogenic is thought to play a role in acquisition of the infection. The findings indicate a HCV focus of low endemicity and are compatible with a low degree of exposures of the natives to the virus. Studies are necessary to assess the risk factors for infection in these Amerindians.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de BioanálisisEstado Zulia, Venezuela. monsalve22000@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monsalve-Castillo
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chacín-Bonilla
authors.forename: Ricardo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Atencio
authors.forename: Leticia Porto
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costa-León
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Echevarría
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral