Naslov
Seroprevalence, risk factors and hepatitis C virus genotypes in groups with high-risk sexual behavior in Croatia

Autori
Vilibić Čavlek, Tatjana ; Gjenero Margan, Ira ; Židovec Lepej, Snježana ; Kolarić, Branko ; Vince, Adriana

Izvornik
Journal of medical virology (0146-6615) 81 (2009), 8; 1348-1353

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
HCV; seroprevalence; genotypes; Croatia; risk factors

Sažetak
We analyzed the seroprevalence, risk factors and genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in groups with high-risk sexual behavior (persons with multiple sexual partners, men who have sex with men-MSM, commercial sex workers-CSW, clients of CSW and persons with sexually transmitted diseases-STDs) in seven Croatian cities. A total of 821 participants without history of injecting drug use (IDU) were included in the study. Anti-HCV prevalence among risk groups varied from 2.9% to 8.5% with an overall prevalence of 4.6% (95% CI=3.2-6.1) compared with 0.5% (95% CI=0.0-1.5) in controls (pregnant females ; OR=9.66 ; 95% CI=1.32-70.7). HCV-RNA was detected in 73.1% anti-HCV positive patients. Three of the seronegative cases (2.1%) were also found to be HCV-RNA positive (“ window period” ). Genotype 1 was most commonly detected (55.6%), followed by genotype 3 (38.9%) and genotype 4 (5.6%). The most prevalent subtypes were 1a (38.9%) and 3a (38.9%). Sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status and level of education) were not associated with anti-HCV seropositivity. Among STDs markers, a higher seroprevalence of HCV infection was found in subjects with a history of HBV infection (10.5% versus 3.8%, p=0.002) and gonorrhea (13.2% versus 4.2%, p=0.011). No other factors reflecting risk sexual behavior such as sexual orientation, number of sexual partners and number of risk behaviors were associated with HCV seroprevalence.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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