Hepatitis C virus in populations at risk for infection. Venezuela

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in different populations at risk for infection. METHODS: This was a descriptive, transversal study whose variables were evaluated by Pearson s correlation analysis. Different populations were selected: 100 drug users, 47 sex workers, and 50 hemodialysis patients for a total of 197 individuals. The only inclusion criterion was the apparent risk of acquiring this viral infection. The presence of antibodies against virus was examined by ELISA IV (Innotest HCV Ab IV). Reactive samples were then tested using a recombinant assay (INNO-LIA HCV Ab III), both from Innogenetics N. V. (Belgium). The presence of viral RNA was determined in all ELISA and immunoblot-reactive samples by a nested polymerase chain reaction method (HCV-fast of Pharma Gen). RESULTS: A prevalence of 1% was found in drug users, and absence of infection or previous contact with the virus in sex workers and hemodialysis patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a very low prevalence of infection with hepatitis C virus in populations at risk for acquiring the infection, and considered that this infection is not a public health problem in these populations in Maracaibo, Venezuela.