title: Higher levels of hepatitis C virus RNA found in blood donors co-infected with HIV as compared to HCV mono-infected donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are public health problems in sub-Saharan countries such as the Republic of Congo. HIV infection could impact the characteristics of HCV infection in co-infected people. We investigated HCV-HIV co-infection among blood donors in Congo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine HIV-positive and/or HCV-seropositive blood donors were selected during screening and subsequently tested for aminotransferases and HCV RNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 29 donors were found positive for HCV RNA (HCV-infected individuals), including 19/60 (31.66%) HIV donors (co-infected) and 10/39 (25.64%) non-HIV donors (mono-infected). Most of the co-infected donors (17/19) displayed a high viral load (> 5 log). The median HCV RNA level was at least 2 logs higher in co-infected people. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also slightly higher in co-infected donors than in HCV mono-infected donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reports HCV-HIV co-infection among blood donors in Congo and shows that HCV viral load is higher in HIV donors.
authors.affiliation: Université Lille 2, Faculté de Médecine, CHRU Lille, Laboratoire de virologie EA3610, Loos-lez-Lille 59120, France. kalidjinou@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Enagnon Kazali
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Alidjinou
authors.forename: Donatien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moukassa
authors.forename: Eben
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ebatetou-Ataboho
authors.forename: Gael Honal
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Mahoungou
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pambou
authors.forename: Famara
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sané
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prevost
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bocket
authors.forename: Jean-Rosaire
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ibara
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hober
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D003223:Congo; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D000637:Transaminases