The prevalence of anti-HCV was determined in 1,309 leprosy patients and a control group of 1,469 subjects from 6 sub-Saharan African countries and the Yemen. Sera found positive by an initial second generation ELISA were subjected to 3 additional confirmatory tests. The anti-HCV prevalence in leprosy patients (7.1%) was significantly higher than in the control group (2.6%). HCV seroprevalence increased with age in both the control and leprosy groups. No statistically significant difference could be found between anti-HCV prevalence and the several clinical forms of leprosy among patients. The results of this study indicate a high degree of exposure or chronic carriage of hepatitis C among leprosy patients.
BT - Journal of medical virology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7521898?dopt=Abstract DA - 1994 May DO - 10.1002/jmv.1890430102 IS - 1 J2 - J. Med. Virol. LA - eng N2 -The prevalence of anti-HCV was determined in 1,309 leprosy patients and a control group of 1,469 subjects from 6 sub-Saharan African countries and the Yemen. Sera found positive by an initial second generation ELISA were subjected to 3 additional confirmatory tests. The anti-HCV prevalence in leprosy patients (7.1%) was significantly higher than in the control group (2.6%). HCV seroprevalence increased with age in both the control and leprosy groups. No statistically significant difference could be found between anti-HCV prevalence and the several clinical forms of leprosy among patients. The results of this study indicate a high degree of exposure or chronic carriage of hepatitis C among leprosy patients.
PY - 1994 SP - 1 EP - 4 T2 - Journal of medical virology TI - Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus among patients with leprosy in several African countries and the Yemen. VL - 43 SN - 0146-6615 ER -