title: Epidemiology of HCV infection in the general population: a survey in a southern Italian town.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the general population older than 18 years of age in a southern Italian town.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was conducted from July 2005 through January 2007 in Putignano, Bari, Apulia. A random 1:5 sampling from the list of records maintained by general practitioners was used. Serology for HCV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and genotyping for HCV were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 2,195 serum samples tested, 58 (2.6%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. The prevalence increased from 1% in subjects aged <30 years to 7.7% in those aged 70 years and was similar in both males and females (3.1 vs. 2.4%, P=0.4). Approximately one-third of 58 positive subjects also showed alanine transaminase levels and 53.5% tested positive for HCV RNA by TaqMan PCR. Genotypes 2a and 1b were represented in 21 and 10 subjects, respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, age (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.07), blood transfusion (adjusted OR 3.3; 95% CI: 1.7-6.3), and household contact with HCV-infected individuals (adjusted OR 4.8; 95% CI: 1.8-13.1) were the independent variables predictive of HCV infection. The overall HBsAg and anti-HBc prevalence rates were 0.5 and 12%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey confirms that HCV infection is clearly also declining in southern Italy, especially among the elderly. HCV genotype 2a predominates, reflecting the current epidemiology of HCV in Italy. Age, blood transfusion, and household contact with HCV-infected individuals may have had a role in the spread of HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology 1, National Institute of Gastroenterology S. de Bellis, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy. raffaelecln1@alice.it
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cozzolongo
authors.forename: Alberto Ruben
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Osella
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elba
authors.forename: Josè
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petruzzi
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buongiorno
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giannuzzi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonfiglio
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lanzilotta
authors.forename: Onofrio Giuseppe
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Manghisi
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leandro
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Donnaloia
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirizzi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parziale
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crupi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Detomaso
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labbate
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zizzari
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Depalma
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polignano
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lopinto
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daprile
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies