title: Evaluation of hepatitis C virus intrafamilial transmission among families with one index case, a pilot study from Fars province, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to survey the rate and risk factors for Hepatitis C virus interfamilial transmission among families with one index case.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The role of intrafamilial transmission in Hepatitis C virus epidemiology is still debated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 families (236 members) of HCV infected patients from Fars province, spring to summer 2013. All subjects were first evaluated for the risk factors of exposure and then their serum was checked for the presence of HCV antibody and the genome, using ELISA and PCR. The genotype of all PCR positive cases was also determined by a commercial assay. Two independent sample t test and Chi-Square test were used to compare groups together.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 18 out of 34 families, HCV antibody was detected (52.9%) in new members. Among them, HCV transmission in 11 families (32%) was also confirmed by PCR. Having a history of intravenous drug abuse (P=0.006) and incarceration (P=0.01) showed to be important risk factors for interfamilial transmission. Hence, blade/needle sharing (P=0.016) just following molecular assay and sex (P=036) only in the serologic analysis were also determined as significant risk factors. Furthermore, based on serologic results, medium socioeconomic state was further associated with this manner of transmission (P=0.019 and P=0.328). Interestingly, among relatives, 13 cases were brothers while just 5 cases were couples. The genotypes 3a and 1a were more prevalent among the population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, our finding highlighted a noticeable role of interfamilial transmission for HCV spread and supports the significant role of close relatives, especially brother relationship in this spread. Hence, the socioeconomic state was associated with the transmission rate of virus in the family.
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lankarani
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; National Research Institute for Science Policy, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardebili
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sepehrimanesh
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nejabat
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Amir
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hemmati Rad
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Bacteriology and Viorology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Younes
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hosseini
keywords: Hepatitis C virus; Intrafamilial transmission; Risk factors; Socioeconomic state