Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/12895
Title
Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Amerindians from Western Venezuela.
Author(s)
Date issued
2007-02
Citation
Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz . 2007 Feb;102(1):107-10
Language
Inglés
Document type
journal article
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.
Subject
MESH
Indians, South American | Adolescent | Adult | Child | Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay | Female | Hepacivirus | Hepatitis C | Hepatitis C Antibodies | Humans | Male | Middle Aged | Polymerase Chain Reaction | Prevalence | RNA, Viral | Venezuela
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DOI
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