title: Hepatitis C virus infection in Guinea-Bissau: a sexually transmitted genotype 2 with parenteral amplification?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sub-Saharan Africa is the continent with the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Genotype 2 HCV is thought to have originated from West Africa several hundred years ago. Mechanisms of transmission remain poorly understood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To delineate mechanisms for HCV transmission in West Africa, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of individuals aged >or=50 years in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Dried blood spots were obtained for HCV serology and PCR amplification. Prevalence of HCV was 4.4% (47/1066) among women and 5.0% (27/544) among men. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for HCV infection were age (baseline: 50-59 y; 60-69 y, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.67, 95% CI: 0.91-3.06; >or=70 y, AOR: 3.47, 95% CI: 1.89-6.39), belonging to the Papel, Mancanha, Balanta or Mandjako ethnic groups (AOR: 2.45, 95% CI:1.32-4.53), originating from the Biombo, Cacheu or Oio regions north of Bissau (AOR: 4.16, 95% CI: 1.18-14.73) and having bought or sold sexual services (AOR: 3.60, 95% CI: 1.88-6.89). Of 57 isolates that could be genotyped, 56 were genotype 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that transmission of HCV genotype 2 in West Africa occurs through sexual intercourse. In specific locations and subpopulations, medical interventions may have amplified transmission parenterally.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and Centre for International Health, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Plamondon
authors: Annie-Claude
authors: AC
authors: Labbé
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Frost
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Deslandes
authors: Alfredo Claudino
authors: AC
authors: Alves
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Bastien
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Pepin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006169:Guinea-Bissau / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers