Prevalence of antibodies to HCV in Egypt: a survey of 5221 apparently healthy individuals

ABSTRACT

Five thousand two hundred and twenty-one apparently normal healthy individuals aged 16-73 years were tested for anti-HCV by recombinant 2nd generation enzyme linked immune sorbent assay [ELISA] and for HBs Ag by ELISA. Confirmatory test to HCV using polymerase chain reaction [PCR] was done in 116 anti-HCV +ve individuals. Of the study group, 301 individuals were tested for previous exposure to schistosomiasis by testing for anti- schistosomal antibodies using indirect hemagglutination test. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 28.5% and was higher in male sex [29.4%] compared with females [14.5%], villagers [33%] compared with medical staff [23.4%] in Giza [35.7%] compared with Cairo [17.1%] and in the age group 40-50 years [41.6%]. It was also higher though not significantly so in relation to operations and previous blood transfusions. HBs antigenemia did not correlate positively with anti-HCV, however, schistosomal antibodies showed a significant positive correlation