HEPATITIS-C ANTIBODY PREVALENCE IN BLOOD-DONORS IN DIFFERENT GOVERNORATES IN EGYPT

Markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infecti ons were sought in serum samples from 2644 blood donors in 24 of Egypt 's 26 governorates. Of the 2644 samples, 656 (24.8%) were shown to con tain anti-HCV immunoglobulin G antibody by Abbott second generation en zyme immunoassays (EIA). Of 85 EIA-positive samples tested by recombin ant immunoblot assay, 72 (85%) were positive. HCV seroprevalence in th e governorates ranged from zero to 38%; 15 governorates (62%) had an H CV antibody prevalence greater than 20%, and 6 (25%) greater than 30%. Governorates with higher sero-prevalences were located in the central and north-eastern Nile river delta, and south of Cairo in the Nile ri ver valley. Subjects from areas in and adjoining the Sinai peninsula, in the eastern and western desert, and in southernmost Egypt, had the lowest prevalence of HCV antibody. The large urban governorates of Cai ro and Alexandria had antibody prevalences of 19% and 11%, respectivel y. A total of 39.4% subjects had evidence of HBV infection (and-HBV co re antigen total antibody). HCV infections were detected more frequent ly in donors with markers for HBV infections than in uninfected subjec ts (36% versus 18%, P<0.001).