Insignificant prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C in a rural area of western Maharashtra.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a rural population in Maharashtra. METHODS: 1054 serum samples collected from apparently healthy persons were tested by recombinant immunoblot assay for antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV). Anti-HCV positive samples were tested for HCV-RNA by nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: One man tested positive for anti-HCV; his sample was also HCV-RNA positive. CONCLUSIONS: HCV infection is infrequent in this rural area in Maharashtra.