SEROPREVALENCE OF HIV AND HCV INFECTIONS IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

During the years 1992-1994, we tested 948 individuals from different p opulation groups for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections by ELISA and WB and fo r HCV infection by ELISA. Repeated ELISA reactivity for HN was found i n 2.12% of blood donors, 2.95% of fire brigade personnel and 1.61% of prisoners. Western blotting studies, however, showed that these sample s were non-reactive or indeterminate to either HIV-1 or HIV-2. In cont rast, anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 39% of fire brigade personn el, 31.4% of prisoners and 20.8% of blood donors. The analysis of risk factors for acquiring HCV infection showed a strong association betwe en a past history of parenteral therapy for schistosomiasis and anti-H CV seropositivity (p < 0.0001). The implementation of preventive strat egies is at the moment the mandatory choice to stop a further spread o f the HCV infection. Meanwhile the same preventive measures could avoi d spreading of the HIV disease.