Monsalve-Castillo, FranciscaChacín-Bonilla, LeonorAtencio, Ricardo JPorto Espinoza, LeticiaCosta-León, LucianaEchevarria, Jose Manuel2021-05-062021-05-062007-02Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz . 2007 Feb;102(1):107-100074-0276http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/12895Previous 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.engVoRhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/hepatitis C virusprevalenceAmerindiansVenezuelaIndians, South AmericanAdolescentAdultChildEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayFemaleHepacivirusHepatitis CHepatitis C AntibodiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPolymerase Chain ReactionPrevalenceRNA, ViralVenezuelaAtribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional172940091021107-1010.1590/s0074-02762007000100018Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruzopen access