Seroprevalence of anti-HCV in an urban child population: a pilot survey in a developing area, Cameroon
Ngatchu, T.; Stroffolini, T.; Rapicetta, M.; Chionne, P.; Lantum, D.; Chiaramonte, M.
Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 95(1): 57-61
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-5304 PMID: 1311043 Document Number: 318113
The seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a randomly selected group of 696 urban and suburban children from Kumba City, South West Province, Cameroon, was estimated with ELISA kits (Ortho Diagnostic Systems). The children, aged 4-14 years, were selected from 6 primary schools. Sera were frozen and shipped in a thermocooled container within 15 hours to Rome for analysis at the laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Health. The overall seroprevalence was 14.5%, increasing from 6.6% in children aged 4-6, to 17.5% in those aged 11 (p0.001). There was no difference between sexes or among those with different family sizes. Those among lower classes, based on parents' occupation, had a 2.2-fold greater risk for positive anti-HCV antibodies. Children of single parents were not at increased risk. Suburban children had higher seroprevalence, 21.0%, compared to urban children, 11.5%. Since hepatitis C is transmitted parenterally, and ritual scarification and tattooing now are rare, it was hypothesized that transmission may have occurred from contact sports or play, or by an insect vector.