Biotecnologia Aplicada Elfos Scientiae ISSN: 0684-4551 Vol. 12, Num. 2, 1995, pp. 94-95

REPORTE CORTO/SHORT REPORT

Presented in the Congress Biotecnologia Habana'94. La Habana, Cuba, Nov. 28 - Dec. 3, 1994

THE HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION IN CUBA: PREVALENCE, ANTIBODY AND RISK FACTORS

Guillermo J. Padron1, Enrique Arus2, Luis Rivera3, Ariel Vina1, Jorge Bacallao4.

1Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, 2Hospital 'Hermanos Ameijeiras'. 3Havana Hospital 'Carlos J. Finlay', and 4Havana Medicine School, Havana, Cuba

Code Number: BA95035
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The infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been characterized based on data mainly derived from developed countries. Consequently, there is a lack of information relative to the prevalence in general population and the associated risk factors in developing countries. The present paper reports the distribution of antibodies to HCV observed in different regions and groups of the Cuban population, and the risk factors linked to this infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Anti-HCV antibodies were tested in samples from 470 patients with liver diseases, 2 463 blood donors and 560 pregnant women, from 10 out of 14 Cuban provinces. Furthermore, 1 141 samples of general population were studied in Cienfuegos City. Three EIA systems were employed: BioSCREEN anti-HCV (Heber Biotec, Havana, Cuba). UBI HCV EIA (United Biomedical Inc., New York, USA) and Ortho HCV ELISA 2nd. generation (Ortho Diagnostics, Beerse, Belgium). The relative risk associated with the HCV infection was assesed by an epidemiological questionnaire.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The overall prevalence among blood donors (0.8%) and pregnant women (1.1%) does not differ (p=0.45), in spite of a tendency of a higher prevalence in Havana than in the rest of the country (table 1). This difference is statistically significant for blood donors (1.6% vs. 0.4%, p=0.01).

Table 1 Anti-HCV prevalence in low risk groups. Cuba, 1990 - 1993

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Group        Studied Population    Anti-HCV +   Prev. 8
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Blood donors, Cuba       2 478        20          0.8
Havana*                  1 744        27          1.5
Other provinces**        1 603        6           0.37
High Alat***             170          22          12.9
Pregnant women, Cuba     1 236        13          1.1
Havana****               556          7           1.3
Other provinces**        680          6           0.8
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** Study in 10 out of 14 Cuban province, September, 1992.

*** Blood Bank of Marianao, Havana, September, 1990; March, 1991.

**** All pregnant women, 8 health areas, Havana, January-May, 1992.

Table 2. Anti-HCV in general population.Cienfuegos, May 29-July 17, 1992

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Sex         Age         Samples     HCV +     Prev.* 8
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Male       15-34        133         2          1.5
           35-54        185         4          2.2
           >55          208         2          1.0
           Total        526         8          1.6
Female     15-34        164         3          1.8
           35-54        243         5          2.1
           >55          208         8          3.8
           Total        615         16         2.3
Total                   1 141       24         1.9
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Table 3 Anti-HCV prevalence in high risk groups. Cuba, 1990-1993

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Group                      Anti-HCV+      Prev. 8
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Hemophiliacs*               8              44.4
Hemodialysis, Cuba (1992)   137            46.7
Peritoneal dialysis, Cuba
(1991)                      6              9.1
HIV seropositives**         6              2.8
Plasmaphersis blood donors* 43             47.3
Male Homosexuals*           3              5.3
High risk professionals***  0              0.0
-----------------------------------------------------

**All seropositives from Havana City and Pinar del Rio province

***All risk personnel of a blood bank and an hemodialysis unit.

Regarding the general population (table 2), a slightly higher prevalence was found in women and in adults over 35 years old. The antecedents of blood transfusions (RR=4.25, CI 1.26; 14.37) and the history of two or more surgical operations (RR=4.95, CI 1.8; 13.56) were the only risk factors found to be associated with HCV infection, without linkage among them (p=0.45).

The main risk groups for HCV infection were those associated with the hematic infection route (table 3).

Copyright 1995 Sociedad Iberolatinoamericana de Biotecnologia Aplicada a la Salud