Infection by hepatitis B and C virus in non-intravenous drug using female prostitutes in Spain

We have studied the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serologic markers in female blood donors and in female prostitutes and the relationship of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) with the presence of treponemal antibodies (FTA-ABS) in non-intravenous drug using female prostitutes. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in 1.0% of the female blood donors, anti-HBc in 15.6% and anti-HCV in 0.7%. In the prostitutes, the prevalence of HBsAg was 6.1%, anti-HBc was positive in 29.0% and anti-HCV in 8.8%. No significant statistical association between the prevalence of anti-HBc or anti-HCV and the age of prostitutes (p = 0.9111 and p = 0.8254 respectively) or the length of time as prostitutes (p = 0.3583 and p = 0.5770) was found. FTA-ABS positive prostitutes had a significantly higher prevalence of anti-HCV than FTA-ABS negative prostitutes (p < 0.001). No statistical association was found between anti-HBc antibodies and positive FTA-ABS prostitutes (p = 0.336).Corresponding author.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B,hepatitis C,syphilis and HIV in Georgian blood donors

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) virus and syphilis in the population of blood donors in Georgia has been investigated. Out of 4970 donors 7.3% had anti-HCV (6.9% confirmed), HbsAg was positive in 4.1% (3.4% confirmed), Seroprevalence of Syphilis was 2.3%. Three individuals had HIV. Prevalence of HCV and HBV in Georgia is higher than national prevalence estimates of viral hepatitis in neighboring countries.     

乌鲁木齐地区无偿献血者HCV感染及合并感染状况研究

目的 了解乌鲁木齐地区无偿献血者HCV感染及合并感染状况及流行病学特点,为减少HCV经血液传播,预防和控制HCV输血风险提供依据。 方法 收集2008年1月1日-2010年12月31日在乌鲁木齐血液中心献血者的一般资料及五项指标ALT、HBsAg、抗-HCV、抗-HIV、抗-TP血液检测结果。 结果 调查自愿无偿献血者共计140 665名,其中男性86 179名(61.27%),女性54 486名(38.73%),年龄范围18~55周岁。在所调查的140 665名无偿献血者中, 5 971名献血者血液检测不合格,不合格检出率为42.45‰,血液五项检测指标不合格率分别为HBsAg(4.55‰)、ALT(26.82‰)、抗-HCV(5.52‰)、抗-HIV(2.34‰)、抗-TP(4.09‰)。抗-HCV阳性率在性别、年度、学历、年龄分布上差异无统计学意义(均P＞0.05)。HCV与ALT、HBV、HIV、TP的合并感染率分别为0.66‰、0.11‰、0.05‰、0.06‰。logistic回归分析显示献血者HCV感染影响因素有职业、性别及重复献血次数等。 结论 在今后献血工作中,要加大对男性、初次以及未婚无偿献血者的筛查力度,建立一支固定、重复的无偿献血者队伍,才能不断提高血液安全。     

我国部分地区献血员HCV感染的血清流行病学研究

对甸部分地区献血２２７３人ＨＣＶ感染的血清流行病学进行了研究。义务献血员抗－ＨＣＶ检出率为０－１．１０％，辽宁和安微职业献血员抗－ＨＣＶ检分别为１．４９％和３．１４％，但河北和内蒙职业献血－ＨＣＶ检出率高达３０．１３％和３１．８６％。既往有肝炎病史、ＡＬＴ异常史以及ＡＬＴ异常者抗－ＨＣＶ检明显高于无肝炎病史和ＡＬＴ异常者抗－ＨＣＶ检出率明显高于无肝炎病史和ＡＬＴ正常者；献血浆是感染ＨＣＶ的主要原因     

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among the voluntary blood donors of New Delhi,India

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of transfusion-associated hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study was conducted with an objective to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HCV antibody in New Delhi, India using a large number of healthy voluntary blood donors. A total of 15,898 healthy voluntary blood donors were subjected to anti-HCV testing (using a commercially available third generation anti-HCV ELISA kit) and 249 were found to be reactive for anti-HCV antibody, yielding an overall prevalence of 1.57%. No significant difference was found between the HCV positivity rate of male (1.57%; 238/15,152) vs. female (1.47%; 11/746) donors, family (1.58%; 213/13,521) vs. altruistic (1.51%; 36/2377) donors and first-time (1.55%; 180/11,605) vs. repeat (1.61%; 69/4293) donors. The age distribution of anti-HCV reactivity showed a maximum prevalence rate of 1.8% in the age group of 20–29 years. In addition, there was a clear trend of decreasing positivity for anti-HCV with increasing age and this trend was statistically significant. The results of the present study show that the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in the healthy voluntary blood donors of New Delhi, India is considerably higher than the reported seroprevalence of HCV in majority of the industrialized nations and this represents a large reservoir of infection capable of inflicting significant disease burden on the society. In addition, donors of New Delhi, India showed a trend of decreasing seroprevalence with increasing age, possibly implying a higher exposure rate to HCV in younger subjects.     

A higher than expected recovery rate from hepatitis C infection amongst adolescents: a community study in a hepatitis C-endemic township in Taiwan

This study investigated the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), evaluated clinical manifestations of hepatitis C, and explored the risk factors amongst adolescents in an HCV-hyperendemic area in Taiwan. In December 1999, 713 students aged 13-16 years from Taishi township, in central Taiwan, were enrolled in a screening program for anti-HCV and alanine transaminase (ALT) status. Fourteen participants (M/F = 6/8) were positive for anti-HCV. Eight of the 14 later proved to be negative for HCV RNA, and they demonstrated relatively low sample rate/cut-off rate (S/CO) ratios (1.05-11.83) for anti-HCV tests. All HCV RNA negative cases had normal serum ALT levels. The other six (43%) seropositive students demonstrated HCV viraemia and greater S/CO ratios (25.66-77.49). Two of these six participants had elevated serum ALT levels. Compared to anti-HCV-negative subjects, anti-HCV-positive students exhibited significantly greater rates of exposure to one or more of the following: blood transfusion, tattooing, and earlobe piercing. This study group has a greater prevalence (2%) of anti-HCV than the general Taiwanese population at the same age. The study also reveals a lower rate (43%) of chronicity of HCV infection than that reported in the literature.     

Hepatitis B and C markers among alcoholics in Israel: High incidence of HCV infection

Patients with alcoholic liver disease have an increased prevalence of viral hepatitis. However, the role of demographic characteristics has not been adequately delineated. Therefore, we examined and compared the seroprevalences of hepatitis B and C in Israeli alcoholic patients to that of blood donors control group by their country of birth and origin. Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody and hepatitis C virus antibody testing (second generation ELISA) and a confirmatory recombinant immunoblot assay was performed on 496 alcoholic attending an alcoholic abstinence program and compared to 193,806 randomly non-alcoholic blood donors on the basis of their country of birth. Three hundred twenty-eight alcoholic patients (66%) were immigrants and Israeli born Jews and 168 (34%) were Israeli Arabs. Of the 496 alcoholic patients, 24 (4.8%) were HBsAg positive, 38 (7.6%) were anti HCV positive, and 2 (North African Jews) were positive for both markers. HBsAg was detected in 13 (3.9%) immigrant and Israeli Jews and 11 (6.5%) Israeli Arabs, significantly higher than in the adjusted non alcoholic blood donors (p < 0.01). Anti-HCV was detected in 33 (10%) immigrants and Israeli Jews and 5 (2.9%) Israeli Arabs, significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.005). In the subgroup alcoholic Jews there was no significant difference in hepatitis B seropositivity among alcoholic that were native Israeli, Eastern Europe and former USSR, and western Europe and American immigrants comparing to the control group. In contrast, anti-HCV recombinant immunoblot assay seropositivity in alcoholic Jews from all subgroups was significantly greater than in non alcoholic blood donors (p < 0.001). Odds analysis of all ethnic groups revealed that alcoholism requiring detoxification have a significant risk factor for hepatitis C more than hepatitis B (p < 0.001). The increased seroprevalence of hepatitis C among Israeli alcoholic patients, regardless their country of birth and origin, suggest that alcoholism is likely to have a predisposing factor for HCV infection.     

不同人群HCV与其它肝病标志物阳性率的调查

目的了解江苏省启东地区不同人群的HCV等肝病标志物情况。方法采集肝癌病例、HBsAg阳性者及自然人群血清标本,用酶免法检测抗-HCV;同时检测ALT、抗-TTVIgG,HBVM标志物作参考比较。结果肝癌病人、HBsAg阳性者和自然人群的抗-HCV阳性率分别为5.11%、1.82%和2.42%,无显著性差异(P>0.05)。未见HCV感染与HBV感染间的联系,与年龄、性别、血型的关系也不大。9例抗-HCV阳性的肝癌患者中有6例伴有HBsAg阳性,有1例所有的HBVM均为阴性,且ALT和AFP均为阴性。有1例伴有抗-TTVIgG阳性。结论启东地区抗-HCV感染率不高,不同人群间的差别不大;与历史资料比,似有下降的趋势。     

近期ALT升高史单采浆供者乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎病毒感染现状的调查

对一组一年内一次以上ALT升高史的单采浆供者血清中多项乙肝与丙肝病毒感染标志进行了检查,并与本地区无ALT升高史供浆者进行比较。两组检测结果分别为抗HCV:14.03%和6.45%;抗HCV-IgM:3/8和2/13;HBsAg:2.82%和0.46%;抗HBs:32.39%和25.35%;抗HBc:45.07%和33.18%;其检出率前者均高于或显著高于后者,并与ALT升高次数有显著的伴随关系。     

177例毒瘾者丙型肝炎病毒感染的流行病学调查

采取ELISA法对167例静脉内毒瘾者、10例口吸毒瘾者、49例非肝病病人及58例供血员作了抗-HCV检测。结果发现,抗-HCV阳性率分别为92.2%、10%、2.0%和1.7%,静脉内毒瘾者的HCV感染率非常显著高于其他各组(P<0.001),后3组之间差异无显著意义(P>0.05)。表明静脉内毒瘾者是HCV感染的高危人群,造成该人群HCV感染的流行可能与HCV感染者合用注射器静注毒品、注射器和毒品溶剂不消毒等因素有关,与用毒时间无显著相关。HCV感染在不同特征的静脉内毒瘾者的分布是一致的。     

单采浆还输血球献血员中丙型肝炎病毒感染的流行病学和血清学研究

本文报告单采浆献血员中丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染的流行病学和血清学研究结果。通过对5个自然村3 496人流行病学调查表明,单采浆献血员肝炎现患率和单项ALT异常率分别为17.10%和23.23%,二者均显著高于全血献血员和非献血员成人。经排除法证明,上述肝炎患者绝大多数为肠道外传播的非甲非乙型肝炎。后将部分单采浆献血员肝炎病例和单项ALT异常者的血清标本,送美国疾病控制中心检测,抗-HCV阳性率分别为97.06%和100%。证实为HCV感染。流行病学调查表明,单采浆献血员HC流行是由单采浆还输血球过程中交叉感染引起的。     

输血传播庚型肝炎的前瞻性观察

目的了解庚型肝炎（ＨＧ）在我国输血后肝炎中的发生率及其与输血后乙型肝炎（ＨＢ）、丙型肝炎（ＨＣ）的关系。方法检测１３８例因手术输血病人在输血前后的ＨＢｓＡｇ、抗－ＨＢｓ，ＨＢｅＡｇ、抗－ＨＢｅ、抗－ＨＢｃ、抗－ＨＣＶ、ＨＣＶＲＮＡ和ＨＧＶＲＮＡ。结果５３例发生输血后肝炎病毒感染，其中丙型肝炎病毒感染４８例；乙型肝炎病毒感染２例（含１例两型混合感染）。７例输血后可用巢式ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ法查到庚型肝炎病毒感染，３例合并丙型肝炎病毒感染者均有ＡＬＴ增高。４例单纯ＨＧＶ感染者，ＡＬＴ均正常。ＨＧＶＲＮＡ持续１个月至半年不等。５例输血后ＨＧＶ感染的病人可查到供血，其中３例病人至少有１份供血ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性。结论单纯ＨＧＶ感染的献血员和输血后感染者均无病毒性肝炎的临床表现和ＡＬＴ改变，与ＨＧＶ作为一种重要肝炎病毒的观点不相符。     

Detection of antibodies to hepatits C virus in dialysis patients

Dialysis patients are at risk for infection by a variety of blood-borne agents trasmitted within dialysis units.The development of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening test prompted many studies on the prevalence of anti-HCV among dialysis patients.The authors have evaluated the prevalence of anti-HCV in 405 hemodialysis patients both by Elisa screening and 4-RIBA test system with a follow-up of two years.The study showed a difference in the incidence of antibodies to HCV by year. In 1990, 15.2% were positive with an increase to 20.8% in 1991. There was an increase of 5% in dialysis patients and only 1.9% in the personnel working in the dialysis ward.Another control group of volunteers did not show any positivity. In addition, the correlations of the antibodies against HCV with markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and history of transfusion were evaluated.These findings suggest that the patients found to be positive should be dialyzed on separate machines and special precautions must be undertaken to reduce the risk of transmission.     

山西有偿献血地区某村HBV、HCV、HIV感染现状分析

目的了解山西省农村有偿献血地区HBV、HCV、HIV感染状况及有偿献血对其分布的影响.方法对某村的946名20～65岁居民进行调查,采用ELISA法分别检测血清中HBsAg、HBsAb、HBeAg、HBeAb、anti-HCV和HIV抗体.结果HIV抗体全为阴性,HBsAg、HBsAb、HBeAg、HBeAb、anti-HCV的阳性率分别为5.3%、54.5%、2.5%、22.5%、1.7%;其中有偿献血人员108名,相应的阳性率分别为0.9%、63.9%、0.9%、18.5%、4.6%,从未有偿献血人员838名,相应的阳性率分别为5.8%、53.3%、2.7%、23.0%、1.3%.与未有偿献血的研究对象相比,曾经有偿献血的研究对象HBsAg、HBsAb和anti-HCV的阳性率差异有显著性.结论该村未发现HIV感染者,HBV、HCV感染与其他地区无明显不同,有偿献血人员HCV感染率较高.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses infection in chronic alcoholics with or without liver disease in Ioannina, Greece: Low incidence of HCV infection

Intravenous heroin abusers comprise a high risk group for hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) infection. Chronic alcoholics with liver disease (LD) also comprise a high risk group for HBV infection whereas the frequency of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) ranges from 27–42.6%. In this study, HBV and HCV infection markers were determined in alcoholic patients with (83 patients) or without LD (68 patients) in order to assess the prevalence of these markers (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb and anti-HCV). The reason for the study was a lack of established data in this group of patients in Greece. The disease control groups consisted of 70 non-alcoholic hospitalized patients and 60 heroin addicts, whereas 1342 healthy blood donors were also investigated. Our results showed significantly increased prevalence of HBV infection markers in chronic alcoholic patients compared to healthy controls and non-alcoholic hospitalized patients. The findings were independent of the presence or absence of LD. In contrast to heroin addicts, where anti-HCV antibodies were observed in 90%, there was no difference in the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in chronic alcoholics (with or without LD), nonalcoholic hospitalized patients or healthy controls. In conclusion, we found that in this area of northwestern Greece, chronic alcoholics, independent of the presence of LD, comprise a high risk group for HBV infection but very rarely have HCV infection. The latter finding may reflect technical or socioeconomic differences regarding the lifestyle of our patients, and our population in general.     

贵阳地区性乱者血清抗HCV的调查

对208例性乱、107例献血员作血清丙型肝炎病毒抗体(抗HCV)、部分乙肝病毒标志(HBVM)检测。结果献血员抗HCV阳性率1.87%,性乱者8.65%,其中伴性病者为12.7%,不伴性病者4.1%。性乱者抗HCV阳性率在男、女各年龄组间无明显差异,HCV合并HBV感染率达72.2%。结果提示,性乱者中有着不可忽视的HCV感染率,感染率高低与伴发性病或HBV感染有关。     

广东省1995～2001年HIV抗体阳性献血员合并HBV、HCV、梅毒感染状况调查

目的 了解广东省1995～2001年献血员HIV流行的特征及与其他传染病合并感染情况，为制定HIV经血源传播防治策略提供依据。方法 收集1995～2001年广东省HIV抗体阳性献血员资料进行分析，并进行HBV、HCV和梅毒血清学检测。结果 1995～2001年，广东省累计HIV抗体阳性献血员167例，占全省报告HIV感染总数的5．44％(167／3072)，且献血员中HIV抗体阳性人数逐年增长。167例病例中以男性为多(88．02％)；年龄主要集中在20～29岁组(55．09％)；病例送检地区以广州、深圳和东莞为主；其原籍主要是广东省和河南省。128例肌，抗体阳性献血员中抗-HCV、梅毒抗体及HBsAg阳性率分别为79．69％、7．81％及3．13％，HIV／HCV／梅毒、HIV／HBV／HCV、HIV／HBV／梅毒三重感染率分别为7．81％、3．13％及0，未发现四重感染。结论 广东省肌，抗体阳性献血员合并HCV和梅毒感染率高。应加强献血员的筛查及流动人口的管理，以控制HIV,HBV和HCV经献血员向一般人群传播。     

Incidence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in blood donors, high risk patient groups, liver diseases and health professionals. Multicenter study of the ABBOT ELISA method, comparison with the ORTHO test

Serum samples from 1185 individuals (blood donors, health care workers, patients on haemodialysis or from other high risk groups or with non-A, non-B [NANB] hepatitis and other liver diseases) were examined for antibody to a recombinant antigen of hepatitis c virus (anti-HCV). A new ABBOTT HCV EIA system was used and a parallel study with ORTHO HCV ELISA was also done for 380 samples to compare the two anti-HCV tests. A confirmatory neutralizing ABBOTT ELISA probe was also performed in 45 cases. Anti-HCV seropositivity was found in 1.60% of accepted healthy blood donors, while among subjects excluded from donation for elevated aminotransferase the rate was 8.95%. In patients on haemodialysis 47.15% anti-HCV prevalence was found, in other high risk group subjects 32.5%. Patients with acute post-transfusion (PT) NANB hepatitis showed 40% prevalence, this rate in chronic PT-NANB was 77.8%. The two ELISA tests revealed 95% agreement in the parallel determinations. Serial dilution studies of anti-HCV positive sera showed that ABBOTT test was of superior sensitivity. The results of the confirmatory test suggest that reactive (positive) samples of low optical density near to the cut-off value require a confirmation with the neutralization test. In conclusion HCV infection in Hungary seems to be a common aetiologic factor in PT-NANB hepatitis and the screening of blood donors for anti-HCV may be useful. However, because of financial difficulties, cost/benefit calculations are recommended before the introduction of this preventive measure.     

病毒性肝炎患者血清抗核抗体谱检测的临床意义分析

目的探讨乙型病毒感染肝炎(HBV)、丙型病毒感染肝炎(HCV)患者血清抗核抗体谱检测的临床意义,为临床诊断及疗效提供参考。 方法回顾性分析1875例HBV、563例HCV、488例体检健康者(HC)的抗核抗体谱(ANAs)阳性分布;根据病毒性肝炎患者抗核抗体谱结果情况分为阳性组和阴性组,收集并分析两组患者一般资料、肝功能指标、免疫球蛋白,纳入有完整资料的患者为456例。 结果HBV患者的ANAs阳性率为18.40%,HCV患者为11.90%,HC患者为4.10%,病毒性肝炎组与健康对照组的ANAs阳率性有显著性差异(P<0.05)。病毒性肝炎组的ANAs阳性率与HC比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)的抗体有：抗dsDNA抗体、抗Nucleosome抗体、抗Histone抗体、抗SSA/Ro60抗体、抗SSA/Ro52抗体、抗SSB抗体、抗AMA-M2抗体、抗CENP-B抗体。最常见SSA/Ro52抗体阳性;病毒性肝炎组ANAs性别比较,阳性组女性多于阴性组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);病毒性肝炎患者ANAs阳性组AST、ALT、GGT、TBI均高于阴性组,白蛋白ALB水平低于阴性组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。病毒性肝炎患者ANAs阳性组IgG高于阴性组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。 结论通过检测病毒性肝病患者血清中的多项抗核抗体谱,有助于了解机体的免疫状况,对疾病的临床诊疗和转归具有一定的指导作用。     

Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients

This work was carried out to study the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, its associated risk factors and possible routes of transmission in hemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients. Ninety five patients and 15 normal controls were included in this study. Patients were classified into 3 groups: Group I (64 hemodialysis patients), Group II (16 renal transplant recipients) and Group III (15 patients with chronic renal insufficiency on conservative treatments). Each individual was subjected to full clinical examination, estimation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), testing for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and core antigen (anti-HBc) by modified ELISA technique. Anti-HCV was found in 87.5% of hemodialysis patients, 81.25% of renal transplant patients, 53.3% of the conservative group and in 13.3% of the control group. There was a significant correlation between the presence of anti-HCV and the duration on dialysis in groups I and II (p < 0.05), while no significant correlation was detected between HCV positive cases and the number of units of transfused blood in groups I and II (p > 0.05). Serum ALT was elevated in patients with HCV infection, but there was no significant correlation between the presence of anti-HCV and elevated ALT level among the examined groups of patients (p > 0.05). The prevalence of HCV infection was not correlated with the duration of renal transplantation and the type of immunosuppressive therapy (p > 0.05). Coinfection with HBV and HCV could occur, as previous infection with HBV was demonstrated. Anti-HBc was found in 51.8%, 66.7%, 37.5% of anti-HCV positive patients in groups I, II, II respectively. Anti-HBs was detected in 24.1% and 15.4% of anti-HCV positive in groups I and II. HBsAg was found only in 4.7% of anti-HCV positive hemodialysis.