ABSTRACT
The seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) specific antibodies and HCV genotypes distribution were studied among 559 Iraqi children with thalassaemia in receipt of repeated blood transfusions. HCV-specific antibodies were detected in 376 (67.3%) serum samples using third-generation enzyme immunoassay and confirmatory immunoblot assays. Of 78 randomly selected sera, 48 (61.5%) were HCV-RNA positive. HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 4 and mixed 1b and 4 were demonstrated in 13 (27.1%), 11 (22.9%), 17 (35.4%) and 7 (14.6%) sera respectively. Strict measures for the controlling the spread of HCV are needed by introducing advanced techniques for blood donor screening.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Thalassemia/therapy , Transfusion Reaction , Blood Donors , Child , Child Welfare/statistics & numerical data , Child, Preschool , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Donor Selection , Genotype , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepatitis C/blood , Hepatitis C/etiology , Hepatitis C/prevention & control , Hepatitis C/virology , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , Immunoblotting , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Infection Control , Iraq/epidemiology , Population Surveillance , RNA, Viral/analysis , RNA, Viral/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Thalassemia/complications , Thalassemia/epidemiology , Urban Health/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
To estimate the seroprevalence of HCV infection among HIV-infected haemophiliacs and to demonstrate the most prevalent HCV genotype, 47 HIV-infected haemophilia patients were screened for anti-HCV antibodies. By performing polymerase chain reaction and DNA enzyme immunoassay, HCV-RNA was detected with subsequent genotyping. Seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 66.0%. Of 31 HCV/HIV co-infected patients, 21 (67.7%) had no history of blood transfusion. We detected 4 HCV genotypes: 1a, 1b, 4 and 4 mixed with 3a, HCV-1b being the most frequent. Contaminated factor VIII (clotting factor) could be responsible for disease acquisition.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/epidemiology , Hemophilia A/complications , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Urban Health/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Blood Transfusion/statistics & numerical data , Child , Comorbidity , DNA, Viral/analysis , DNA, Viral/genetics , Drug Contamination/statistics & numerical data , Genotype , HIV Infections/blood , HIV Infections/etiology , HIV Seroprevalence , Hemophilia A/epidemiology , Hemophilia A/therapy , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepatitis C/blood , Hepatitis C/etiology , Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Iraq/epidemiology , Mass Screening , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Population Surveillance , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
To estimate the seroprevalence of HCV infection among HIV-infected haemophiliacs and to demonstrate the most prevalent HCV genotype, 47 HIV-infected haemophilia patients were screened for anti-HCV antibodies. By performing polymerase chain reaction and DNA enzyme immunoassay, HCV-RNA was detected with subsequent genotyping. Seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 66.0%. Of 31 HCV/HIV co-infected patients, 21 [67.7%] had no history of blood transfusion. We detected 4 HCV genotypes: 1a, 1b, 4 and 4 mixed with 3a, HCV-1b being the most frequent. Contaminated factor VIII [clotting factor] could be responsible for disease acquisition
Subject(s)
Hemophilia A , Genotype , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Serotyping , Hepatitis CABSTRACT
The seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] specific antibodies and HCV genotypes distribution were studied among 559 Iraqi children with thalassaemia in receipt of repeated blood transfusions. HCV-specific antibodies were detected in 376 [67.3%] serum samples using third-generation enzyme immunoassay and confirmatory immunoblot assays. Of 78 randomly selected sera, 48 [61.5%] were HCV-RNA positive. HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 4 and mixed 1b and 4 were demonstrated in 13 [27.1%], 11 [22.9%], 17 [35.4%] and 7 [14.6%] sera respectively. Strict measures for the controlling the spread of HCV are needed by introducing advanced techniques for blood donor screening
