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Prevalence of hepatitis C virus among bilharziasis patients

Zaheer A Khan1, Ibrahim S Alkhalife, Sami E Fathalla

  • 1Department of Parasitology, Damman Regional Laboratory and Blood Bank, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. zaheerahmedkhan@hotmail.com

Saudi Medical Journal
|February 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in bilharzia patients, with nearly 18% testing positive for HCV. Egyptian patients showed the highest HCV prevalence among those with schistosomiasis.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Schistosoma mansoni co-infection contribute significantly to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.
  • Understanding the prevalence of HCV in patients with schistosomiasis is crucial for public health management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among patients diagnosed with bilharziasis (schistosomiasis).

Main Methods:

  • Sera from 405 patients with suspected bilharziasis were tested for HCV using ELISA and for Schistosoma infestation using indirect hemagglutination.
  • Schistosomiasis diagnosis was confirmed by an anti-schistosoma antibody titer of 1:256 or higher.

Main Results:

  • Of 405 patients, 39 (9.6%) tested positive for bilharzia antibodies.
  • Among those with bilharzia, 7 patients (17.9%) showed evidence of HCV infection.
  • HCV prevalence was highest among Egyptian patients (26.7%) compared to Saudis (11.8%) and other Middle Eastern nationals (14.3%).

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of patients with bilharziasis are co-infected with Hepatitis C virus.
  • HCV prevalence is notably higher in Egyptian patients with schistosomiasis.
  • These findings highlight the importance of screening for HCV in bilharzia patients, particularly in endemic regions.
Abstract

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