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Heterosexual and homosexual transmission of hepatitis C virus: relation with hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. Corona ,
G. Prignano ,
A. Mele ,
G. Gentili ,
F. Caprilli ,
E. Franco ,
L. Ferrigno ,
A. Giglio ,
F. Titti  and
C. Bruno
...Show all authors
R. Corona*
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità – Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica
G. Prignano
Affiliation:
Istituto Ospitaliero Dermosifilopatico di S. Maria e S. Gallicano
A. Mele
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità – Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica
G. Gentili
Affiliation:
Istituto Ospitaliero Dermosifilopatico di S. Maria e S. Gallicano
F. Caprilli
Affiliation:
Istituto Ospitaliero Dermosifilopatico di S. Maria e S. Gallicano
E. Franco
Affiliation:
II Università di Roma ‘Tor Vergata’ – Istituto di Igiene.
L. Ferrigno
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità – Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica
A. Giglio
Affiliation:
Istituto Ospitaliero Dermosifilopatico di S. Maria e S. Gallicano
F. Titti
Affiliation:
II Università di Roma ‘Tor Vergata’ – Istituto di Igiene.
C. Bruno
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità – Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica
P. Verani
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità – Laboratorio di Virologia
P. Pasquini
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità – Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica
*
*Dr Rosamaria Corona. Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica. Viale Regina Elena 299. 00161 Roma.
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Summary

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A seroprevalence study was carried out on 1757 outpatients consecutively seen in a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in order to evaluate the sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV). A total of 1442 consenting patients were tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HCV. HBV, HIV - 1) antibodies. The relations between anti-HCV, anti-HBc and anti-HIV - 1 were studied. Of 73 anti-HCV positive reactions, 45 (61.6%) were confirmed by the recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA). The proportion of individuals with anti-HCV was higher in outpatients with a history of sexually transmitted disease than without. It was 2.8% in non drug user heterosexuals and 2.9% in non drug user homosexuals. Intravenous drug users (IDU) had higher anti-HCV prevalence when a history of STD was taken into account (42.3% in subjects with STD versus 36.7% in subjects without STD). Among non drug user heterosexuals an association was found between anti-HCV and anti-HBc. These data suggest that sexual transmission of HCV occurs, although it seems to be less efficient than other parenteral modes of transmission. When a more sensitive and specific marker of HCV infection become available, a more accurate estimate of the frequency and efficiency of the sexual transmission will be possible.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 107 , Issue 3 , December 1991 , pp. 667 - 672
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

References

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