ABSTRACT
Aim: Our aim was to survey the rate and risk factors for Hepatitis C virus interfamilial transmission among families withone index case
Background: The role of intrafamilial transmission in Hepatitis C virus epidemiology is still debated
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 families [236 members] of HCV infected patientsfrom Fars province, spring to summer 2013. All subjects were first evaluated for the risk factors of exposure and then theirserum was checked for the presence of HCV antibody and the genome, using ELISA and PCR. The genotype of all PCRpositive cases was also determined by a commercial assay. Two independent sample t test and Chi-Square test were used tocompare groups together
Results: In 18 out of 34 families, HCV antibody was detected [52.9%] in new members. Among them, HCV transmissionin 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] justfollowing 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 oftransmission [P=0.019 and P=0.328]. Interestingly, among relatives, 13 cases were brothers while just 5 cases werecouples. The genotypes 3a and 1a were more prevalent among the population
Conclusion: In conclusion, our finding highlighted a noticeable role of interfamilial transmission for HCV spread andsupports the significant role of close relatives, especially brother relationship in this spread. Hence, the socioeconomic statewas associated with the transmission rate of virus in the family