ABSENCE OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS TRANSMISSION BUT FREQUENT TRANSMISSION OF HIV-1 FROM SEXUAL CONTACT WITH DOUBLY-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted through infected blood and bloo d products, but evidence of other routes of transmission is less clear ly understood, In a study designed to examine human immunodeficiency v irus (HIV) transmission, the prevalence of HCV has also been measured. Sixty-one couples were analysed, 30 in which partners were at risk th rough sexual contact alone, of whom 12 (40%) became infected with HIV and none with HCV. Thirty-one partners were exposed sexually and addit ionally through intravenous drug use. Of these, 16 (52%) became infect ed with HIV and 25 (80%) contracted HCV infection, These findings supp ort the evidence of others that HCV is only rarely transmitted by sexu al intercourse in heterosexual relationships and that HIV is not a cof actor for HCV transmission.